LONDON (AP) — Kevin Spacey is a “sexual harasser” who “delights in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable,” a British prosecutor told a London court Friday as the discredited actor’s trial on charges formally began. of sexual crimes.
Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to a dozen charges of sexual crimes allegedly committed against four men between 2001 and 2013.
He has been charged with indecent and sexual assault and the felony of forcing a person to engage in nonconsensual penetrative sexual activity, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
In her opening statement at Southwark Crown Court in London, prosecutor Christine Agnew told the jury that Spacey was an extremely famous and award-winning actor. Reuters informed.
“He is also, the prosecution alleges, a man who sexually assaults other men,” he said, according to the news agency. “A man who doesn’t respect personal boundaries or space, a man who seems to delight in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable: a sexual harasser. His preferred method of assault is to aggressively grab other men in the crotch.”
Addressing the jury directly, he said “it was only fair” that “they might feel a little dazzled or overwhelmed” but urged them to “stand firm and true to the oath they have sworn.”
The actor, dressed in a gray suit, gold tie and glasses, watched from the dock, according to Reuters.
Spacey, who won the best actor Oscar for “American Beauty” in 1999 four years after winning best supporting actor for his role in “The Usual Suspects,” pleaded not guilty last July to five of the charges. against him, four of sexual harassment. assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
In January, he pleaded not guilty to seven other sex crime charges and denied a series of alleged sexual assaults on a man between 2001 and 2004.
Defense attorney Patrick Gibbs said Spacey, who is identified in court by his full name Kevin Spacey Fowler, denied all allegations of non-consensual activity and told the jury to ask themselves as they listened to the evidence what, if any, had occurred. that something had happened, when I was with him. the men.
He also suggested the alleged victims had other motives and said Spacey had left himself open to opportunists when he came out as gay in 2020. Jurors, he added, would hear truths, half-truths, deliberate exaggerations and “a lot of damn lies.”
Spacey also attended court on Wednesday, where the judge, Judge Mark Wall, told the 14 jurors that they should not let media coverage or the defendant’s fame influence their thoughts.
“Many of you know his name or have seen his movies. That does not disqualify you from serving on this jury,” she said.
Criminal trials in England typically use 12 juries, but two more were chosen in case someone realizes they know an alleged victim or someone else connected to the case.
The trial continues and is expected to last just over four weeks.
