A trial against French-Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski on charges of defamation began in Paris on Tuesday.
The proceedings against the 90-year-old centre on allegations of sexual abuse by British actress Charlotte Lewis and an interview that the director gave to Paris Match magazine at the end of 2019.
Lewis accused Polanski of sexually abusing her in the 1980s when she was 16.
Polanski rejected the allegations and strongly reiterated his stance in the Paris Match interview.
"The basic quality of a good liar is an excellent memory," he was quoted as saying. "Charlotte Lewis is always included in the list of my accusers without these contradictions ever being pointed out."
Polanski did not appear in person for the start of the trial on Tuesday.
Lewis told French newspaper Le Parisien that a smear campaign had been launched against her in 2010 when she first levelled the accusations at the famous director, calling that time a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from.
According to the newspaper, Lewis sees Polanski's conviction as a form of justice. "Roman Polanski knows very well that I was never a prostitute or a liar. I just want to clear my name for my son and his future children."
Lewis had starred in a minor supporting role in Polanski's film "Pirates" released in 1986.
In 1977, Polanski was arrested over allegations he raped a 13-year-old girl. He fled the US for Europe after it looked like a judge would reject a plea bargain. Other allegations have followed but he maintains his innocence.