I doubt very many of those calling for Polanski’s death are unaware there is no possibility of a death penalty for his crime. They’re using hyperbole.
The author appears unable to grasp this.
That's not all he's unable to grasp. There are many mistakes he makes, one of which is about the "statute of limitations". Polanski has already been convicted. It doesn't matter a whit whether the victim wants to testify, she doesn't have to.
The only charge he still faces is that of "fleeing" and the victim has nothing to do with that.
He talks about the vicious rape and refers to it as a "romp in a hot tube", the author of this piece should be tried for stupidity.
The author also takes the position that the crime doesn't matter, that if you have money, you should be able to make it all go away. So all the black ghetto kids who don't have money must go to jail if they do the same things Polanski did, but if you have enough money, you don't have to lower yourself to such lower class results.