Kevin Spacey found not guilty in sex offences trial

Summary

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has been found not guilty of nine sex offences at London’s Southwark Crown Court

The 63-year-old Hollywood star denied the charges – which included seven counts of sexual assault – against four men

The alleged victims are now in their 30s and 40s, with the incidents said to have happened between 2001 and 2013

Prosecutors told the jury the star had left the four complainants feeling “small, diminished and worthless”

Spacey denied using his power as an A-lister to get people into bed, saying he tried to help others – and described the allegations as a “stab in the back”

All four of Spacey’s accusers are entitled to lifelong anonymity under the law

The charges Spacey faced

Here’s a look at the charges Kevin Spacey was facing. Other initial charges were struck out.

Count 4: sexual assault

Count 5: sexual assault

Count 6: causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent

Count 7: sexual assault

Count 8: sexual assault

Count 9: sexual assault

Count 10: sexual assault

Count 11: causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity

Count 12: sexual assault

He was found not guilty on all counts.

Tears and hugs in court from Spacey

Lucy Manning

Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Kevin Spacey stood in the dock of court 1 to hear the verdicts read out – decisions from the jury that would have such an enormous impact on his life.

Earlier he’d been smiling and chatting to the security guards but this was a much more serious moment.

With a pensive face he heard the jury forewoman say “not guilty” nine times. He started crying in the dock as he heard the verdicts.

Then he hugged his manager and legal team, still in tears, and thanked the court staff. This was the verdict he had wanted and had hoped for.

For more on this story and video go to: BBC