Kevin Spacey is CLEARED of intercourse assaults: Oscar-winning Home of Playing cards star says he’s ‘humbled’ outdoors court docket and sobs after being discovered not responsible of offences towards 4 males – after Elton John defended him and trial heard claimants ‘lied for cash’

An emotional Kevin Spacey has stated he’s ‘humbled’ after being cleared of sexually assaulting 4 males following a star-studded trial the place Sir Elton John gave proof in his defence. 

The American double Oscar winner, who marks his sixty fourth birthday right now, was overcome with emotion when the jury at Southwark Crown Courtroom in London returned not responsible verdicts on all counts. 

The star was accused of abusing his fame and energy to hold out 9 intercourse assaults on 4 males throughout his tenure as inventive director of the Previous Vic theatre. However Spacey insisted the claims had been ‘insanity’ and accused the claimants of ‘mendacity for cash’.   

Talking on the steps of the court docket after listening to the verdicts, the double Oscar winner thanked the jury, his authorized staff and his loyal supervisor and longtime pal, Evan Lowenstein, for standing by him.  

He stated: ‘I think about that lots of you possibly can perceive that there is a lot for me to course of after what has simply occurred right now. However I wish to say that I am enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to look at the entire proof and the entire information, fastidiously, earlier than they reached their determination.

‘And I’m humbled by the end result right now. I additionally need to thank the employees inside this courthouse, the safety, Evan Lowenstein, and all those that took care of us each single day, my authorized staff… for being right here daily.’

The allegations not solely shredded what had been a glittering showbiz profession but additionally had main monetary implications, with the star advised to pay £25.5million to the producers of Home of Playing cards after he was sacked. 

He has additionally been landed with at the least £1million in defence charges and suffered the humiliation of being edited out of the Sir Ridley Scott movie All The Cash In The World. Earlier within the trial Spacey advised the jury: ‘I’ve misplaced every little thing’. 

The decision raises the prospect that Spacey may quickly return to our screens after being shunned by Hollywood for the final six years.    

Kevin Spacey leaves Southwark Crown Courtroom right now after being cleared of all costs in his intercourse assault case 

A court docket sketch exhibiting Spacey dabbing his eyes after the not responsible verdicts got here by 

The Home of Playing cards star – pictured right now – broke down within the dock because the jury returned their verdicts 

Following the not responsible verdicts, Spacey positioned his hand on his chest, seemed on the jury panel and mouthed ‘thanks’ twice earlier than they left the room.

Angered by the celebrations within the public gallery, Mr Justice Wall stated: ‘The members of the general public gallery will cease reacting, or I’ll throw you out.’ 

He then recommended the jurors, saying: ‘Each case I’ve to do has its personal difficulties.

‘In your case this stress got here from the truth that this was a case attracting important consideration and also you had been like fish in a goldfish bowl.’

Mr Justice Wall stated Spacey was free to go away the dock, and after the jury had left the room, the star embraced his authorized staff and wiped tears from his eyes. 

As maybe probably the most excessive profile sufferer of the Me Too Motion, Spacey had described how his ‘world exploded’ and he ‘misplaced every little thing in a matter of days’ in 2017 after being accused of creating sexual advances to American actor Anthony Rapp when he was simply 14.

The allegation, which Spacey was later cleared of, led to an avalanche of claims from at the least 30 males in America and Britain.

A overview on the Previous Vic recognized alleged inappropriate behaviour in the direction of 20 males, however Spacey was by no means convicted of any legal offence.

After a five-year Scotland Yard investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service charged the Home of Playing cards star with a sequence of intercourse assaults on 4 males between 2001 and 2013.

However Spacey maintained his accusers had been motivated by ‘cash, cash after which cash’, with one accuser submitting a declare for £500,000 in compensation.

The jury of 9 males and three girls took 12 hours and 26 minutes to announce its verdict.

Carrying a darkish swimsuit, Spacey dabbed his eyes with a tissue because the jury cleared him of each cost.

Three alleged indecent assaults and 4 sexual assaults had been dated between 2001 and 2004. The 5 additional offences that had been alleged towards him vary from between 2005 to 2013.

All through the trial Spacey was positive of his innocence, repeatedly denying all the fees towards him.  

Regardless of being discovered harmless, Spacey now faces an uphill battle to rebuild a profession that was all however ended by the claims towards him  

A court docket sketch by Elizabeth Cook dinner exhibiting Spacey in court docket earlier within the trial  

As allegations piled up and his appearing roles got here to a halt, the hit to Spacey financially was equally devastating. 

His defence prices for the UK trial alone had been put at greater than £1m, a determine dwarfed by US authorized charges.

Even worse, two years in the past an arbitrator dominated his alleged sexual misconduct amounted to a breach of contract and he was told to pay £25.5 million to the producers of House of Cards – a manufacturing from which he was sacked. 

Spacey misplaced an enchantment to overturn the ruling final yr, although whether or not or not he has handed over the money stays unclear.

When the court docket requested Spacey about his monetary state of affairs, he answered: ‘I’ve received no cash coming in and I’ve had quite a lot of authorized payments… and I’ve not paid all of it off and I nonetheless owe cash.’

The actor bought his Los Angeles mansion for £8.5million shortly earlier than the scandal broke.  

He nonetheless owns a £2.5million penthouse flat in an unique London tower block overlooking the Homes of Parliament – the place he stayed throughout the court docket case.

Spacey was sacked from Home Of Playing cards after which suffered the humiliation of being edited out of the Sir Ridley Scott movie All The Cash In The World

Spacey poses together with his award for Finest Supporting Actor in The Common Suspects 

As for the Old Vic, a London theatre that Spacey headed for 11 years – it’s unknown whether or not the star might be reinstated. 

Earlier than the controversy broke Spacey had an assistant, an agent, a publicist, a supervisor, a private coach and a bodyguard.

Within the wake of the scandal, his publicist, Staci Wolfe, give up working for him, as did his brokers at CAA. Solely Mr Lowenstein, appointed as his supervisor in 2016, stays.

Well-known names talked about in trial, from Elton John and Joan Collins to Judi Dench 

Quite a few high-profile celebrities have featured all through Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey’s intercourse offences trial.

At present, Spacey was discovered not responsible of 9 intercourse offences on 4 males between 2001 and 2013, following a trial at Southwark Crown Courtroom.

Jurors heard from international popstar Sir Elton John as he gave proof from Monaco and had been advised how Spacey gifted a ping pong desk to Dame Judi Dench.

Listed below are a few of the well-known faces talked about throughout the trial:

Sir Elton John

Goodbye Yellow Brick Street singer Sir Elton John gave proof through video-link from Monaco throughout the trial – telling jurors Spacey attended a ball at his home after flying in on a non-public jet and purchased a Mini Cooper on the occasion.

Spacey is alleged to have made a person nearly ‘come off the highway’ following a painful crotch seize as he drove the actor to the lavish showbiz occasion.

Sir Elton recalled how Spacey had arrived in ‘white tie’ on the ball and had stayed the night time.

Spacey beforehand advised jurors he saved ‘the most costly’ Mini Cooper ‘ever’ in Sir Elton’s storage.

Sir Elton John gave proof through video-link from Monaco throughout the trial

Dame Judi Dench

Spacey spoke of getting gifted a ping pong desk to Dame Judi Dench after they labored on the movie The Transport Information – in Nova Scotia collectively.

The Hollywood star advised jurors he had ‘made it my mission… to attempt to make Judi snort as a lot as I may’ as he stated her husband had lately died.

Spacey stated the property they stayed in whereas filming had a ping pong desk and the pair ‘developed a beautiful friendship’.

The actor stated he took it upon himself to show Dame Judi easy methods to play and later gifted her a desk of her personal.

Dame Joan Collins

Dynasty star Dame Joan Collins featured as a part of Spacey’s proof from the witness field as he advised jurors of an incident throughout one in all his rehearsals.

The defendant stated he had been requested to maneuver his rehearsal time for Dame Joan as a result of ‘there was a problem together with her hair’.

Spacey stated she ‘insisted on having the ability to rehearse first’.

Richard Harris

Spacey advised jurors the primary time he visited London as an actor, Harry Potter star Richard Harris put him up in an residence for the a number of months he stayed within the metropolis.

The defendant stated Mr Harris helped him out with lodging whereas he was starring in a 1986 manufacturing of Lengthy Day’s Journey on the Haymarket Theatre.

Spacey advised the jury: ‘It was his son’s residence.’

Robert Sean Leonard

Home and Useless Poet’s Society actor Robert Sean Leonard submitted a personality reference to the court docket, describing Spacey as ‘optimistic, supportive and respectful’.

His phrases prompted an emotional response from the defendant, who reached for his tissues and dabbed his eyes whereas sat within the dock.

Mr Leonard stated he had ‘by no means seen anybody’ lead an appearing firm higher than Spacey.

Jack and Chris Lemmon

Spacey was described as ‘like one other son’ to Some Prefer it Scorching star Jack Lemmon throughout the character references learn to the jury.

In the course of the defendant’s proof, he advised the court docket he starred with Lemmon within the Haymarket Theatre manufacturing of Lengthy Day’s Journey in 1986.

Lemmon’s son, Chris Lemmon, stated due to Spacey’s relationship with the Mister Roberts actor, the defendant ‘turned like a brother to me’.

David Furnish

Sir Elton’s accomplice David Furnish additionally gave proof from Monaco throughout the trial concerning the ball Spacey attended within the early 2000s.

Talking about Spacey’s attendance on the occasion, Mr Furnish stated: ‘He was an Oscar-winning actor, there was quite a lot of pleasure he was on the ball.’

Mr Furnish stated a automobile was bought on the ball and ‘Kevin was the best bidder’.

Van Kilmer

When Spacey started giving proof, he detailed his childhood and the assorted faculties he attended within the US.

He named one fellow pupil as Prime Gun actor Val Kilmer and known as him ‘extremely expert’ at drama and an ‘unbelievable actor’.