The prosecution in Kevin Spacey’s criminal trial in London over numerous sexual assault charges has made its opening remarks to the jury.
Speaking on Friday morning at Southwark Crown Court, Christine Agnew KC described the defendant as an “extremely famous actor who has won a number of awards” and acknowledged that the jury may well feel “starstruck or overwhelmed” about being involved in such a case with the two-time Oscar winner. But she added that Spacey was, as alleged by the prosecution, a “man who sexually assaults other men.”
Spacey, 63, faces 12 charges from four different men, all dating between 2001 and 2013 and including seven counts of sexual assault, three counts of indecent 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. Agnew said that the four men were not known to each other, but all had the “misfortune” to come into contact with Spacey.
“None of these men wanted to be touched by Kevin Spacey,” she said. “But he didn’t seem to care.”
The trial is the first in the U.K. faced by Spacey since accusations of sexual assault first broke in 2017 and could decide whether or not he has any future in the entertainment industry.
