Crime
John appeared briefly within the London court docket by video hyperlink from Monaco.
LONDON (AP) — Kevin Spacey ‘s attorneys enlisted the assistance of an A-list star Monday in his sexual assault trial, calling Elton John and his husband to forged doubt on one of many 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 the annual celebration at their Windsor residence on the time that the accuser stated he was attacked in a automobile.
One of many alleged victims stated he was driving with 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 highway.
Furnish supported Spacey’s personal testimony that the one yr he had attended the occasion was 2001. Furnish stated he had reviewed pictures taken on the celebration from 2001 to 2005 and Spacey solely appeared in photos that one yr. He stated all company had 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 personal jet.
Furnish stated Spacey’s look was a shock and he remembered it as a result of it was a giant deal.
“He was an Oscar-winning actor and there was lots of buzz and pleasure that he was on the ball,” stated Furnish, who additionally testified from Monaco.
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 Basis.
Spacey stated he spent essentially the most cash “ever” on that mannequin of automobile and he saved it in John’s storage till he might choose it up later.
The alleged sufferer stated he could have gotten the yr fallacious, 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 necessary 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 had been associates and so they 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 accustomed to the accuser and described him as “charming,” the identical time period Spacey used.
Spacey, 63, has pleaded not responsible to a dozen fees that embody sexual and indecent assault counts and one rely of inflicting an individual to have interaction in penetrative sexual exercise with out consent.
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 move” throughout an evening of heavy ingesting, however he took exception to the “crotch-grabbing” characterization.
John was the ultimate witness to testify within the trial that entered its fourth week in Southwark Crown Courtroom.
Protection lawyer Patrick Gibbs rested his case after studying statements from 10 character witnesses — shut associates, colleagues and a niece — who praised the actor’s work and compassion towards others. Closing arguments are anticipated later within the week.
John’s testimony got here simply over per 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 2 additionally confirmed up at hearings of their telephone hacking lawsuit with Prince Harry in opposition to the writer of the Every day Mail newspaper.
The couple, the Duke of Sussex and actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost are amongst a bunch of claimants that allege Related Newspapers Ltd. violated their privateness by intercepting voicemails and utilizing illegal strategies to eavesdrop on them.
A decide is deciding whether or not to throw out the case after the writer stated the group waited too lengthy to carry their claims.