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Kevin Spacey told detectives he would never have groped anyone or performed a sex act on a man without consent, during interviews given after allegations of sexual assault were made against him in the UK.
Details from his police interviews were read to jurors at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday as the prosecution closed its case against the Hollywood actor. The defence for Spacey, who denies 12 sexual offence charges, will begin tomorrow.
Jurors heard the House Of Cards and American Beauty star, now 63, gave five police interviews voluntarily, in London and New York, during which the separate allegations by the four complainants were put to him.
In one interview, Spacey told detectives he had had “numerous consensual one-night stands” during his time in the UK and conceded he may made a “clumsy pass” towards one of his alleged victims, but vehemently denied any sexual encounters that were not consensual.
During the trial, the court has heard from all four accusers – who have variously described the star as a “vile sexual predator”, “slippery”, and “atrocious, despicable, disgusting”. One described his behaviour as “like he thought he could groom me”.
‘Baffled’ and ‘certain’ of innocence – Spacey responds to accusers
The trial has been under way for almost two weeks
Referring to claims made by a driver, the first alleged victim to give evidence during the trial, Spacey told police he was “baffled” by the allegations.
In another interview dealing with claims made by the second accuser to give evidence, who told the court the two-time Oscar winner assaulted him just hours after meeting him at a countryside pub, Spacey said it was “entirely possible” he might have made a “pass”, but added: “I have certainly never attempted to grab anyone’s crotch while making a pass.”
Spacey told police he had no recollection of the third alleged victim to give evidence, a man who accused the star of subjecting him to a “barrage” of “vile” sexual comments before grabbing his crotch “like a cobra” while at a celebrity theatre event.
“I certainly did not grab anyone’s penis, let alone with force,” the actor said in his statement.
Artist’s sketch: PA/ Elizabeth Cook
Addressing claims by the final complainant to give evidence in court, the star again said he could not remember him. During the trial, the man, a former aspiring actor, accused Spacey of drugging him at his flat in London, before performing a sex act on him while he was asleep.
“I’m certain that I did not attempt to perform oral sex on anyone who fell asleep in my apartment,” Spacey’s statement said. The actor has not yet had the chance to respond to the allegation that he drugged the man, as this was said during evidence in court.
In his statement, Spacey told police he had had “numerous consensual one-night stands with members of the theatre world”, and so could not rule out that the man had been to his flat. However, the actor told police he had never performed oral sex on anyone without consent.
Spacey labelled ‘sexual bully’ – but defence is now set to begin
Spacey, who is standing trial under his full name, Kevin Spacey Fowler, was labelled a “sexual bully” when the prosecution began its case at the end of June.
The charges relate to alleged sexual offences which it is claimed took place between 2001 and 2013, when the accusers were in their 20s and 30s.
Under questioning from the actor’s lawyer, Patrick Gibbs KC, the accusers have all denied either seeking financial gain, attempting to further their career or giving false accounts to the jury.
Spacey’s defence is due to begin tomorrow.
The actor pleaded not guilty in July 2022 to four charges of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
In January this year, he pleaded not guilty to seven further charges – three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
The trial continues.
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