(London) The jury retired on Monday to deliberate in the London trial of US star Kevin Spacey, who was accused of sexual assault by four men between 2001 and 2013 and banned from Hollywood.
Posted at 8:36
Faced with allegations that he was a “sexual harasser” and used his influence to attack young men, the 63-year-old actor, who has been on trial since late June, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him, citing consensual relationships and certain facts merely fabricated by the complainants.
Four men have accused him of sexual assault between 2001 and 2013, particularly since 2004 when he was director of London’s Old Vic theatre.
The most serious allegation against the actor, who won two Oscars for his roles in American Beauty and Usual Suspects, is that of a man accusing him of “drugging” him and having sexual activity with him while he slept.
During the four-week trial at London’s Southwark Court, prosecutors accused the seemingly free actor of being a “sexual molester” and “a man who does not respect the boundaries or personal space of others”.
PHOTO: KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kevin Spacey
These allegations surfaced at the dawn of the #metoo movement in 2017, when Kevin Spacey, the lead artist on the hit Netflix series House of Cards, was at the height of his fame. In doing so, he was kicked out of the series and other projects he was supposed to be a part of.
During their interrogation before the police broadcast during the trial, the four men said they did not dare to speak earlier for fear of not being believed in front of a well-known and influential figure.
Before the jury, the actor presented himself as “a huge flirt” but denied any “violent,” “aggressive,” or “painful” behavior and believed the charges were “weak.”
He said he was “heartbroken” by the allegations and spoke visibly moved about his “lost reputation” with the support of singer Elton John, who testified from Monaco on behalf of the actor.
The jury must decide nine charges against the actor. Twelve had been retained before the trial, but one was added and four dropped during the trial.