Roman Polanski lawyers seek guilty plea dismissal

Polanski is currently under house arrest at his Swiss chalet in Gstaad

Los Angeles lawyers for film-maker Roman Polanski have argued that his 1977 guilty plea for having sex with an underage girl should be dismissed.

But prosecutors insist Polanski, under house arrest in Switzerland following his arrest in September, should first return to the US to face sentencing.

A three-judge appeals panel is expected to rule on the matter within 90 days.

The 76-year-old director fled from the US in 1978 after pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Swiss authorities are expected to decide whether he should be extradited within weeks.

'Backroom manipulations'

Polanski's lawyers began seeking a dismissal of his case last year, claiming judicial misconduct at the time of his original arrest.

They allege a Los Angeles judge, now deceased, engaged in "backroom manipulations" while handling the case in 1977.

His Los Angeles attorneys are arguing that his case should be dismissed

However, prosecutor Phyllis Asayama argued Polanski must return to the US and should not be allowed to "mail in" his defence.

She said any allegations about misconduct could be addressed only after his return.

Earlier this year Polanski's attorneys made similar arguments for dismissal in a Los Angeles court

While accepting that "substantial misconduct" did occur, Judge Peter Espinoza said Polanski would have to apply for dismissal in person.

Best known for such films as Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown, Polanski won the best director Oscar in 2003 for The Pianist.

His latest work, The Ghost, is expected to have its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February.