A California judge has rejected filmmaker Roman Polanski's request to to have his 1977 sex crime conviction dismissed.

The Rosemary's Baby director fled America for Europe before he could be sentenced for having unlawful sex with a minor, a charge he had pleaded guilty to.

U.S. authorities have made several unsuccessful attempts to extradite Polanski back to America so he could be punished for the crime, and earlier this month (Dec14), his lawyers filed documents in Los Angeles, requesting a hearing with a view to closing the case forever.

They also accused district attorneys and judges of "serious misconduct" in their handling of the three decade-plus case.

However, on Tuesday (23Dec14), Superior Court Judge James Brandlin denied the request, ruling the matter could never be resolved while Polanski remained a fugitive.

Brandlin appeared to take the side of prosecutors when he suggested Polanski should return to the U.S. to argue his case in court.

Polanski, 81, was charged in 1977 with raping a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles after plying her with champagne and drugs at a party. He pleaded guilty to having unlawful sex with a minor.