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Roman Polanski appears in Polish court for extradition hearing

French-Polish film director Roman Polanski (C) is accompanied by his lawyers as he arrives for a hearing at the regional court in Krakow on February 25, 2015. The court is to decide whether to extradite the Oscar-winning director to the United States for sentencing on charges that he raped a 13-year-old girl in 1977. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI

KRAKOW, Poland – Filmmaker Roman Polanski appeared in court in southern Poland on Wednesday for a hearing concerning a U.S. request for his extradition over 1977 charges of sex with a minor.

The Oscar-winning director, wearing a dark suit, entered the court in Krakow with his two Polish lawyers, Jan Olszewski and Jerzy Stachowicz. On the attorneys’ request, the court banned media from the hearing.

The judge was not expected to make a ruling on Wednesday and scheduled another hearing for April, buying time to weigh the matter.

Polanski, 81, is in Poland preparing to make a movie.

Prosecutors in Polanski’s childhood city of Krakow, where he has an apartment, have refused a U.S. request to arrest him, but have said there are no legal obstacles to his extradition and have asked the court for a ruling.

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If the judge refuses to hand Polanski over, the case is closed. If he allows the extradition, the final decision will belong to the justice minister.

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