A London jury has acquitted actor Kevin Spacey of all sexual assault charges filed by four men who alleged that the crimes occurred in the last two decades.
The trial involved the Oscar-award-winning actor turning up as a witness in his defense, spared him from potential imprisonment, and allowed him to go back to acting after six years without a career.
Kevin Spacey Found Not Guilty
During Wednesday's reading of the verdict, Spacey could be seen tearing up as he heard the final "not guilty" verdict. The actor then looked at the jury, placed his hand over the lapel of the blue suit and pink shirt he wore at the trial, and mouthed, "Thank you," as the verdict came on his 64th birthday.
In a statement outside Southwark Crown Court, Spacey said that he could imagine many of the people who watched the trial could understand that there was a lot for him to process after what happened on the day of his birthday, as per the Associated Press.
The actor also expressed his gratitude to the jury for taking the time to examine all of the evidence that was laid out and all of the facts in the case carefully before making their final decision.
The not guilty verdict came after two days of testimony culminating with Spacey choking up when speaking out on his six years of not having worked since the sex abuse allegations against him were brought up in 2017.
He said that his world had exploded, arguing that there was a rush of judgment towards him before he could even be asked or answer any question. Spacey lost his job, reputation, and everything he had, he said, in a matter of days.
The charges against Spacey included sexual assault, indecent assault, and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. According to Fox News, the four men who testified against the award-winning actor talked about similar encounters where Spacey allegedly groped them.
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An Emotional Final Reading
The complainants said that the criminal acts occurred between 2001 and 2013, including unwanted touching and aggressive crotch-grabbing. They also claimed that, in one instance, an unconscious man was being given oral sex.
During the trial's closing arguments, prosecutors claimed that Spacey could get away with the alleged behavior because of his status as a celebrity. They also said that the actor allegedly seized brief moments for an "opportunity grab" and could get away with the assaults for years because he had power.
But the jury rejected the prosecution's claims that the actor aggressively grabbed three men by their crotch and the oral sex claim. The actor also told the court that he had consensual sexual encounters with a driver and the aspiring actor, who was said to be the one that was sleeping at the time of the oral sex allegation.
In his defense, Spacey gave jurors an insight into his relationship with famous faces and even name-dropped fellow famous actors, including Jack Lemmon, Val Kilmer, Richard Harris, and Joan Collins, said The Guardian.
