Entertainment
Why is Kevin Spacey in court and what are the allegations against him?
The trial of the Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey has begun in London.
Spacey, 63, is in court in the UK on 12 charges following an investigation by Metropolitan Police.
The two-time Oscar winner’s trial is taking place at Southwark Crown Court and is expected to last four weeks.
Kevin Spacey trial as it happened
Jurors have been warned that although they may know the actor from films and TV – and there will be widespread coverage of the case in the media – they must not discuss or research the case.
Spacey outside Westminster Magistrates Court in June 2022
What is Spacey accused of?
Spacey faces 12 allegations in relation to four men, who have lifelong anonymity under sex offence laws.
The charges are:
• Three counts of indecent assault;
• Seven counts of sexual assault;
• One count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent;
• One count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
He has pleaded not guilty to all of them, with his lawyer Patrick Gibbs KC previously telling the court his client “strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case”.
Spacey first appeared at the Old Bailey in July last year when he faced the first five allegations in relation to three of the men.
They were four counts of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and were alleged to have happened between 2005 and 2013.
In January of this year he appeared again – this time at Southwark Crown Court on a further seven charges relating to the fourth and final complainant.
Those charges are three of indecent assault, three of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. They are alleged to have happened between 2001 and 2005.
Spacey at the Tony Awards in New York in 2017
He is appearing under his full name Kevin Spacey Fowler and he has been granted unconditional bail.
The 63-year-old is best-known for starring in films American Beauty and The Usual Suspects and the hit Netflix show House Of Cards.
He was also artistic director at The Old Vic theatre in London between 2004 and 2015.
The judge in the case is Mr Justice Wall.