LONDON — Kevin Spacey ‘s lawyers enlisted the help of an A-list star Monday in his sexual assault trial, calling on Elton John and his husband to cast doubt on one of the Oscar winner’s accusers on the finish of the protection case.
John appeared briefly within the London court docket by video hyperlink from Monaco after his husband, David Furnish, testified that Spacey didn’t attend an annual gala ball at their Windsor dwelling on the time that the accuser stated he was attacked in a automobile.
John was the ultimate witness for the protection and was adopted by character testimonials from colleagues, family and friends that had Spacey in tears within the dock once they have been learn aloud by his lawyer in Southwark Crown Court.
Spacey, 63, has pleaded not responsible to a dozen prices that embody sexual and indecent assault counts and one rely of inflicting an individual to have interaction in penetrative sexual exercise with out consent.
One of the alleged victims stated he was driving Spacey to the White Tie & Tiara Ball in 2004 or 2005 when the actor grabbed his crotch so forcefully that he virtually ran off the street.
Furnish supported Spacey’s personal testimony that the one yr he had attended the occasion was 2001. Furnish stated he had reviewed images taken on the celebration from 2001 to 2005 and Spacey solely appeared in photos that one yr. He stated all friends have been photographed annually.
John, who was carrying yellow tinted glasses, a darkish jacket and light-weight blue open-collar shirt, stated the actor attended the celebration as soon as within the early 2000s and arrived after flying to England on a non-public jet.
Spacey’s look was a shock and memorable as a result of it was a giant deal, stated Furnish, a filmmaker and John’s supervisor, who additionally appeared from Monaco.
“He was an Oscar-winning actor and there was a lot of buzz and excitement that he was at the ball,” stated Furnish.
John stated the actor spent the evening at their home after the occasion. He additionally confirmed that Spacey purchased a Mini Cooper on the public sale held that evening for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Spacey stated he spent probably the most cash “ever” on that mannequin of automobile and he stored it in John’s storage till he may choose it up later.
The alleged sufferer stated he could have gotten the yr incorrect, however that he wouldn’t have forgotten the incident as a result of it took his breath away and he was driving and virtually crashed the automobile.
The timeline, nevertheless, is essential as a result of the person testified that Spacey had fondled him over a number of years starting within the early 2000s. The incident was the ultimate event, he stated. He threatened to hit the actor and after that prevented him.
Spacey stated the 2 have been associates they usually engaged in some romantic contact however the man was straight, so the actor revered his needs to not go additional. He stated he was crushed when he realized the person had complained to police about him and stated the person had “reimagined” what had been consensual touching.
Furnish stated he was acquainted with the accuser and described him as “charming,” the identical time period Spacey used.
Over two days of testimony final week, the two-time Academy Award winner insisted that he by no means sexually assaulted three of the 4 accusers who described disturbing encounters between 2001 and 2013. The acts allegedly escalated from undesirable touching to aggressive fondling to 1 occasion of performing oral intercourse act on an unconscious man.
Spacey dismissed one man’s fondling claims as “pure fantasy” and stated he shared consensual encounters with two others who later regretted it. He accepted the claims of a fourth man, saying he had made a “clumsy pass” throughout an evening of heavy ingesting, however he took exception to the “crotch-grabbing” characterization.
Defense lawyer Patrick Gibbs rested his case after studying statements from 10 character witnesses who praised the actor’s work and compassion towards others.
Spacey dabbed at his eyes with a tissue as Gibbs learn the phrases of actor Robert Sean Leonard, recognized for his position on the TV present “House” and the film “Dead Poets Society.” Leonard stated Spacey was “positive, supportive and respectful” and somebody he admired significantly.
“He’s more than a successful actor, he’s a movie star, but unlike every other movie star I’ve worked with, he doesn’t know it,” Leonard stated. “Stardom was never his goal. He loves and respects the work, and he loves and respects the people he works with.”
Closing arguments are anticipated later within the week. Spacey is free on bail.
John’s testimony got here simply over every week after he wrapped up his 50-year touring profession with a present in Stockholm.
It’s the second time the “Rocket Man” star and Furnish have made appearances in a London courtroom this yr. The two additionally confirmed for hearings in March on the High Court of their telephone hacking lawsuit with Prince Harry in opposition to the writer of the Daily Mail newspaper.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”