Spacey cleared of sexual assault charges

Actor 'grateful' after London jury trial

by Amber Wilkinson

Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey Photo: Pinguino k

American Beauty Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey has been cleared of all charges in his sexual assault trial.

Not guilty verdicts were returned by a jury for nine sexual offence charges relating to four men between 2001 and 2013 at Southwark Crown Court in London.

In a statement, the 64-year-old said her was "enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached the decision".

Spacey had denied seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The trial lasted four weeks.

The star's acting career had been in the doldrums since allegations first surfaced in 2017, when he was cut from Ridley Scott's All The Money In The World and replaced by Sir Christopher Plummer.

Outside court, Spacey - who was artistic director at the Old Vic Theatre in London between 2004 and 2015 - added: "I am humbled by the outcome today. I also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse, the security, and all of those who took care of us every single day."

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