Actor Kevin Spacey cleared of 9 sexual offence charges relating to four men
The two-time Oscar-winning actor told the press outside the court that he was "grateful and humble".
Actor Kevin Spacey has been cleared of all sexual offence charges against him in a trial in London. The jury on Wednesday cleared him of all nine sexual offence charges related to four men between 2001 and 2013. After being cleared, he thanked the jurors at Southwark Crown Court after more than 12 hours of deliberations. The actor after leaving the courtroom spoke to the press outside the court and said that he was grateful and humble.
According to reports, Spacey was cleared of 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 actor was accused by the prosecution of being a sexual bully who made others uncomfortable by touching and forcibly groping male crotches.
Spacey had replied to these charges as “madness” and a “stab in the back”. Addressing the press stationed outside the court, Spacey said, “I would like to say that I am 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 their decision. “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,” he added.
The four men who accused Spacey gave their testimony in court in a trial which lasted for weeks where he pleaded not guilty to the charges and also saw British Musician Elton John acting as a witness for Spacey. The jury gave the verdict after the jury began deliberations on July 24.
