Roman Polanski threatens to sue Oscars organisers

Director Roman Polanski has threatened to sue the body that runs the Oscars after he was expelled, 40 years after admitting having sex with a minor. Polanski's lawyer has asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to give him a fair hearing and "avoid an expensive lawsuit". The Academy expelled both Polanski and Bill Cosby "in accordance with the organization’s standards of conduct," the organization said in a statement. Polanski was convicted of raping a 13-year-old in 1977, pleaded guilty, was jailed for 42 days and then placed on probation as part of a plea deal before fleeing the country upon learning that a judge planned to revoke the plea deal. Bill Cosby was expelled earlier this month following his conviction for sexual assault.