In U.Okay. Trial, Kevin Spacey Denies Abusing Position of Power

Published: July 14, 2023

Kevin Spacey advised a British jury on Friday that a few of the sexual assault accusations in opposition to him have been “pure fantasy” and “absolute bollocks.”

On trial in a London courtroom, Mr. Spacey fired again at a number of questions that Christine Agnew, the prosecutor, put to him.

At one level, Mr. Spacey mentioned, “You’re just making stuff up now,” and at one other, he known as the prosecution’s case “weak.” On a number of events, Justice Mark Wall, the presiding choose, interrupted to ask Mr. Spacey to reply the prosecutor instantly.

Mr. Spacey, 63, has pleaded not responsible to 12 costs regarding incidents that the prosecution says concerned 4 males and occurred from 2001 to 2013. For most of that point, the Oscar- and Tony Award-winning actor was the creative director of the Old Vic theater in London.

Sitting on the entrance of the courtroom, Mr. Spacey — carrying a blue swimsuit and patterned tie — was cross-examined for almost three hours, the day after giving his personal account.

At one level, Ms. Agnew requested Mr. Spacey if he agreed that he was “the golden boy of the London theater scene” on the time of the alleged encounters, and whether or not his accusers would have been unlikely to report him due to his status.

Mr. Spacey mentioned that he used his place “to help others, to create art” and to revive the status of the Old Vic theater. “I didn’t have a power wand that I waved in front of people’s faces whenever I wanted someone to go to bed with me,” Mr. Spacey added.

Opening the case final month, Ms. Agnew, the prosecutor, mentioned that Mr. Spacey was “a sexual bully” whose “preferred method” of assault was to “aggressively grab other men in the crotch.”

In the times after Ms. Agnew’s opening remarks, the jury heard from the 4 nameless complainants who detailed their encounters with the actor. Some complainants mentioned that Mr. Spacey grabbed them. Under British legislation, it’s unlawful for anybody to establish complainants in sexual assault instances, or to publish info which will trigger them to be recognized.

On Friday, Mr. Spacey mentioned that he didn’t have a “trademark” transfer or grope individuals. “I know myself,” the actor mentioned.

Ms. Agnew requested Mr. Spacey about an encounter with one complainant, who advised the British police that, throughout a celebration, Mr. Spacey hugged him, kissed him twice on the neck, mentioned, “Be cool,” after which grabbed his crotch. Mr. Spacey identified that touching the person’s crotch was not his first motion.

“I am accepting that I got the signals wrong,” Mr. Spacey added of that encounter.

During the morning session, Mr. Spacey was additionally requested about his encounters with the opposite complainants. He mentioned that he didn’t clearly bear in mind the entire occasions however that he had a “naughty relationship” with one complainant, and consensual oral intercourse with one other.

Mr. Spacey turned most animated when requested about accusations that he assaulted a person on the day of a charity gala. The actor mentioned he didn’t settle for “a single word” of that complainant’s testimony. Mr. Spacey mentioned that complainant could also be motivated by “money, money and then money” to talk out in opposition to him.

After Mr. Spacey’s cross-examination, the court docket broke for lunch. The protection is now anticipated to spend a number of days calling witnesses in assist of Mr. Spacey’s case.

Source web site: www.nytimes.com