Roman Polanski has filed a request asking a judge in Los Angeles to dismiss child-molestation charges against him - 30 years after he fled the U.S. To escape prosecution.

Polanski, 75, has lived in France since fleeing the US in 1978 to avoid facing a prison sentence after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

He was initially indicted on six felony counts and faced up to life in prison.

Since then, Polanski has been unable to return to the US for fear of arrest, and has even avoided making films in the UK because of the danger of extradition.

Source: Press Release