American actor, Kevin Spacey was pictured arriving at court in London today as he prepares to face trial over a series of alleged sex offences against four men.
The Hollywood star has previously denied 12 charges, including sexual assault and indecent assault.
On Wednesday, a jury panel of 14 was selected to hear the prosecution’s opening speech as Spacey watched on intently from the dock at Southwark Crown Court.
Christine Agnew KC is due to tell jurors about alleged offences between 2001 and 2013.
The actor pleaded not guilty in January to 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 two-time Academy Award winner also previously denied four further charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
Before the jury panel was selected for the trial, Mr. Justice Mark Wall told prospective jurors: ‘I am sure the defendant will be gratified to know that many of you will know his name or have seen his films.’
The judge said the case has ‘quite obviously’ attracted a lot of media attention, but that they ‘must avoid this coverage where you can’.
However, he said the fact they had seen any of Spacey’s films would not disqualify anyone from serving on the jury.
‘Seeing him in films, on TV, and knowing his name will not disqualify you from serving on this jury, but thank you very much for letting us know,’ he said.
Spacey has an address in Waterloo, south London, but also lives in the US, where he has family and a dog.
According to the indictment, Spacey carried out offences involving grabbing, squeezing, and touching of one victim’s genitals and buttocks over clothing.
The charges are said to have been carried out against three men during the time Spacey was artistic director of London’s Old Vic theatre.
Three of the latest charges relate to indecent assault, all on the same alleged victim, on dates unknown between 1 January 2001 and 30 April.
Another three charges relate to sexual assault on another alleged victim, on dates unknown between 1 May 2004 and 24 June 2005.
And one of the charges relates to causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent on a date between 1 May 2004 and 24 June 2005.
In a preliminary court hearing in June, Spacey’s lawyer, Patrick Gibbs KC, said his client ‘strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case’.
The actor is known for starring in House Of Cards, American Beauty, and The Usual Suspects, and was the artistic director at The Old Vic theatre in London between 2004 and 2015.
Spacey is on unconditional bail.
