People
London trial of Kevin Spacey draws to a close
Actor Kevin Space stands trial in London. photo
© Aaron Chown/PA Wire/dpa
US Hollywood star Kevin Spacey is on trial in London for alleged sexual assault. A verdict could come soon. An overview of what is involved.
Whether the jury finds the US actor guilty or innocent should soon be determined. An overview of what Southwark Crown Court is all about.
What exactly is Spacey supposed to have done?
The prosecution accuses him of sexual assaults against four different men in several cases, such as forcing them to have sex. The cases are said to have occurred between 2001 and 2013 in London and the county of Gloucestershire. Spacey was Artistic Director at London’s Old Vic theater from 2004 to 2015 and lived in the British capital for a time.
The alleged victims testified against Spacey at the trial. Among other things, they accused the actor of being a “sexual bully”. A witness said Spacey grabbed his crotch “like a cobra.”
How does the actor see it?
Spacey denies the allegations. He admitted touching a man in the groin area and a sexual act with another in the process. But Spacey emphasized that it was “romantic” touching or consensual sex. Spacey also denied using his fame to sexually assault multiple men.
When asked if he felt lonely and then sought sexual contact, Spacey said, according to the British news agency PA: “Welcome to life. Yes. Yes, I have.” He was “very open” when it came to casual sexual encounters at times. “That doesn’t make me a bad person.”
Spacey admitted that in one instance he “definitely misinterpreted signals from a man that he didn’t want sex.” In response to allegations that he grabbed a man “like a cobra” in the crotch, Spacey said the allegations were fabricated.
The British pop singer Elton John (76) and his husband David Furnish, who were connected via video chat from Monaco, also appeared as witnesses for the defense at the trial. However, what his defenders intended with their appearance remained unclear. They had nothing to contribute specifically to the allegations against Spacey.
What does Spacey face if convicted?
If found guilty, he could face imprisonment. In the UK legal system, however, there are two steps. First it is decided whether someone is found guilty or not. How long the jury will need for its deliberations is uncertain. It could be hours, days, or even weeks. In the event of a guilty verdict, the sentence will be determined later by the judge and announced at a separate date.
Have there been similar allegations against Spacey before?
Yes, last year he had to face a civil suit in the US, but prevailed at the time. Actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of sexually assaulting and hurting him at a party in 1986. He demanded $40 million in damages. But Spacey won the case. Two other civil lawsuits in the US have been dropped.
Rapp’s allegations, which were made public for the first time in 2017 in the course of the #MeToo debate, led to many other allegations and shaken Spacey’s then successful career.
Netflix ended its collaboration on the hit series House of Cards and is suing him for damages after complaints about him were received from employees on the set. The Old Vic also distanced itself from him – allegations had also been made there. Scenes with him in the thriller “All The Money in the World” were even removed after the fact.
Spacey’s defense attorneys complained in the current trial that Spacey was judged on social networks and that he was “cancelled” as a result. In court, however, the allegations against him were always presented as on shaky legs.
Before the trial began, Spacey gave an interview to “Zeit” magazine. Spacey reflected on his past performances: “I think I tried really hard not to be an asshole. But I think to some extent I was an asshole.” Regarding the process in London, he was confident at the time that the allegations would collapse.