What to Know About Kevin Spaceys UK Sexual Offenses Trial

The Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey is scheduled to go on trial in London on Wednesday, going through a number of allegations of sexual assault.

Because the #MeToo motion got here to prominence six years in the past, a variety of high-profile males have been accused of misconduct, but Mr. Spacey’s case is considered one of just a few to achieve a British courtroom.

The actor, 63, has already pleaded not responsible to all costs. This month, in an interview with Zeit Magazin, a German journal, he stated he anticipated to be discovered harmless, after which he would resume appearing.

The trial at Southwark Crown Courtroom is scheduled to final 4 weeks. Throughout that point, the courthouse is prone to be crammed with reporters and superstar watchers following the case.

Right here’s what you want to know.

Why is Kevin Spacey on trial in Britain?

Mr. Spacey is accused of sexually assaulting 4 males in England between 2001 and 2013. For a lot of that interval, Mr. Spacey was the creative director of the Outdated Vic theater, considered one of London’s most acclaimed playhouses.

Final June, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service charged Mr. Spacey with 4 counts of sexual assault in opposition to three males, in addition to one other of inflicting an individual to have interaction in penetrative sexual exercise with out their consent.

Just a few months later, in November, the prosecutors licensed seven additional costs in opposition to Mr. Spacey associated to a different complainant. These included three counts of sexual assault, three of indecent assault and one depend of inflicting an individual to have interaction in sexual exercise with out consent.

Each units of costs might be thought-about on this month’s trial.

How will the trial work?

Anna Bradshaw, a British legal lawyer, stated in a phone interview that the case will look totally different from an American trial. In Britain, authorized professionals known as barristers argue instances in courtroom whereas carrying the standard garb of white wigs and black robes.

The trial won’t be televised, Ms. Bradshaw added, as a result of cameras are hardly ever allowed in British courts. (As a substitute, specialist artists sketch the scene.)

The complainants can even not be publicly recognized, Ms. Bradshaw stated, including that this rule was in place to guard accusers’ privateness and encourage victims of sexual assault to report incidents to the police. They may seemingly give proof, and be cross-examined, “by way of a video-link, or, in courtroom, probably from behind a display or curtain,” Ms. Bradshaw stated.

Throughout the four-week trial, the prosecutors will first define their case to the 12-person jury, then Mr. Spacey’s group will make its protection.

What penalty does Mr. Spacey probably face?

One of many offenses carries a most sentence of life imprisonment. Others additionally include potential jail phrases. Underneath British regulation, judges have some flexibility to change sentences.

If there’s a responsible verdict, the choose would usually maintain a separate listening to to announce the sentence at a later date, Ms. Bradshaw added.

What has Mr. Spacey stated in regards to the accusations?

In two hearings over the previous 12 months, Mr. Spacey pleaded not responsible to the fees in opposition to him. Final June, Patrick Gibbs, Mr. Spacey’s authorized consultant, advised a courtroom that the actor was decided to determine his innocence.

In Britain, the place it’s an offense to publish info that will bias a jury, defendants like Mr. Spacey face some restrictions in utilizing the information media to make their case earlier than a trial.

To keep away from breaking British regulation, Mr. Spacey didn’t talk about the case within the Zeit Magazin article, aside from stressing his innocence. However he stated he knew of administrators who needed to work with him as soon as the trial ended. “I do know that there are individuals proper now who’re prepared to rent me the second I’m cleared of those costs,” he stated.

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