Summary

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

  • Speaking afterwards, he said he was humbled by the outcome, and that there was a lot to process

  • The Hollywood star, who is 64 today, cried in the dock as the verdicts were read out

  • Prosecutors had 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, and described the allegations as a "stab in the back"

  • The complainants, now in their 30s and 40s, are entitled to lifelong anonymity under the law

Live Reporting

Edited by James FitzGerald

  1. Jury thanked for its service

    Charley Adams
    Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

    A short time ago, the judge thanked the jury for its service.

    Justice Mark Wall told the court the jury had deliberated for 12 hours and 26 minutes.

    The jury and the judge then left the courtroom.

  2. What the defence had argued

    It's been almost four weeks of hearings at Southwark Crown Court, and we've heard statements from both the prosecution and defence.

    Here are some of the arguments that were made by Spacey's legal team:

    • Defence barrister Patrick Gibbs KC said that Spacey had been “tried by social media”
    • He said three of the four accusers had lied when they made allegations against Spacey, and had done so “for reasons which, ultimately, will only ever be known to themselves". He suggested that a fourth complainant was intoxicated
    • Gibbs told jurors: "It's not a crime to like sex, even if you're famous and it's not a crime to have sex, even if you're famous, and it's not a crime to have casual sex. And it's not a crime to have sex with someone of the same sex because it's 2023 not 1823"
    Court sketch of Kevin Spacey at London's Southwark Crown Court, July 13, 2023Julia Quenzler for BBC

    Kevin Spacey pictured in a court sketch on 13 July

  3. 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.

  4. Spacey looked emotional as verdicts read out

    Charley Adams
    Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

    The verdicts have been read out in court.

    Kevin Spacey looked around the court room and looked emotional upon hearing the verdicts.

  5. 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.

  6. Spacey cleared of all charges
    Breaking

    The jury has returned its verdicts: Kevin Spacey has been found not guilty on all nine counts of sexual offences.

  7. Jury returns verdicts

    Welcome to our live coverage of the sex offences trail of Kevin Spacey.

    The jury is returning its verdicts now.