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Tate's sister: Polanski won't get fair U.S. trial

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By The Associated Press

Published: September 30, 2009

Updated: 09/30/2009 10:55 pm

NEW YORK - Debra Tate, the sister of Roman Polanski's second wife, actress Sharon Tate, says Polanski is brilliant and a "good guy" and she doesn't think her former brother-in-law can get a fair trial in the United States.

Tate told NBC's "Today" show Wednesday that the U.S. justice system is broken.

Polanski was arrested Saturday in Zurich. The U.S. has been seeking the extradition of Polanski, who fled to France decades ago to avoid sentencing for having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

Tate says Polanski did not forcibly have sex with the girl, calling it a "consensual matter." The girl, however, testified at the time that Polanski forced himself on her. She subsequently has said she forgives him and wants the ordeal to be over.

Sharon Tate was murdered in Los Angeles in 1969 by followers of Charles Manson. She was eight months pregnant.

Debra Tate says it's been a devastating few weeks for her, with her sister's killer, Susan Atkins, dying Sept. 24 and now her late sister's husband jailed.

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