How can a child molester be libeled?

Roman Polanski who is currently a fugitive from U.S. justice after being found guilty of raping a 13 year old girl in 1978 was upset that his reputation was tarnished by a magazine article. Polanski has been in hiding in France ever since taking off prior to being sentenced. He had the audacity to sue Vanity Fair magazine for claiming he hit on some woman while on the way to his wife's funeral. Turns out the incident was a couple weeks later.

His lawyer, John Kelsey-Fry, argued that Mr Polanski had been "monstrously libelled for the sake of a lurid anecdote"

This is ludicrious. There is no way to further damage the reputation of someone convicted of raping a 13 year old girl. However, a British jury somehow found in his favor and determined that he was libeled and awarded him 50,000 pounds. Amazing, and we think our justice system is screwy.

Oh yeah, since it is an American company which he sued, they ought to tell him no problem you can have the money BUT you have to come get it.