Sexual assault civil trials against Kevin Spacey set for next year

Kevin Spacey is acceptable to look civilian trials astatine the High Court aboriginal adjacent year, implicit abstracted lawsuits filed by 3 men who person accused him of intersexual assault.

A antheral called Ruari Cannon, who has waived his close to anonymity, and 2 different claimants who person not, alleged they were abused by the Hollywood histrion astatine times betwixt 2000 and 2015.

They are taking ineligible enactment astatine the High Court against Spacey, portion Mr Cannon is besides bringing enactment against London's Old Vic theatre. The histrion was creator manager determination betwixt 2004 and 2015.

Spacey, 66, has denied allegations of wrongdoing. He has formally denied 2 of the claims and is yet to record a defence to the tribunal successful the third, which was submitted successful September.

In 2023, Spacey was acquitted of 9 enactment offences relating to 4 men successful a transgression trial.

At a preliminary proceeding for the civilian cases astatine the High Court connected Wednesday, Mrs Justice Lambert acceptable a provisional three-week model for each 3 to beryllium heard determination successful October 2026.

She said it is inactive to beryllium determined whether the claims are heard successful a azygous trial, oregon successful 3 consecutive trials.

Lawyers had made arguments for and against proceeding the cases together.

Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC, representing Mr Cannon and the different 2 claimants, known arsenic LNP and GHI, said successful written submissions that proceeding the cases unneurotic would forestall Spacey and witnesses from having to springiness grounds much than once.

William McCormick KC, representing Spacey, said the lawsuit brought by the antheral known arsenic LNP should beryllium heard successful the region court, abstracted from that of Mr Cannon and the 3rd man.

In written submissions, helium said: "On a rational analysis, the lone communal diagnostic is Kevin Spacey.

"The information that helium met, oregon successful the lawsuit of Cannon, is said to person met, each claimant successful the discourse of his enactment astatine the Old Vic takes matters nary further.

"The circumstances of the alleged assaults are markedly antithetic and hap galore years apart."