Roman Polanski's petition to close sexual assault case against him denied

A judge in Los Angeles has denied Roman Polanski's bid for a hearing in the 1977 sexual assault case against him.

The decision by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Brandlin on Tuesday is the latest defeat for the filmmaker in having the case dismissed without returning to the United States.

Lawyers for the French-born director argued that he has served his sentence and that he need not be present in court for the case to close officially. There is a warrant for Polanski's arrest in the United States.

It was ruled that the Academy Award-winning director was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing because he remains a fugitive. Polanski pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse in 1977 to settle charges that he had sex with a 13-year-old girl during a photo shoot. He never showed up to a sentencing hearing in that case, court documents say, and he has lived outside of the country ever since.

The director's lawyers have fought for years to have the case thrown out on claims that Polanski was a victim of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct. Courts have ruled they cannot address the issues unless he returns to California.

Polanski won Academy Awards for the 2002 film "The Pianist" and was nominated for the 1974 film "Chinatown" and the 1979 film "Tess."