Kevin Spacey pleads not guilty to latest counts of sexual assault in UK court

Kevin Spacey has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of sexual assault.

The actor took part via video link in a hearing into his alleged sexual offenses at Southwark Crown Court in London Friday afternoon.

The hearing focused on a second set of charges against Spacey in November. The new charges include three offenses of indecent assault, three offenses of sexual assault and one offense of inducing a person to engage in sexual activity without their consent. They all relate to a single male complainant, and the alleged assaults span a period from 2001 to 2004.

During the hearing, a grim-looking Spacey spoke only to confirm his full name, Kevin Spacey Fowler, and to plead "not guilty" to all seven counts.

Spacey's attorney, Patrick Gibbs, also appeared on the video link and appeared to accept a motion to join Spacey's pair of indictments. This would allow one trial to deal with all counts against Spacey, rather than separate trials. Spacey's defense does, however, have the option of requesting separate trials, but this must be done by March 24.

In the meantime, a preliminary hearing has also been tentatively set for April 5.

In December 2022, the "House of Cards" actor also participated via videoconference in a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court and spoke briefly, confirming his name, date of birth and address in London. At the time, he had not indicated any means. The actor faces a total of 12 charges.

The first set of charges against Spacey last year were for five counts of sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty to all five counts in July. The charges relate to the alleged sexual assault of three men while Spacey lived in London and was artistic director of the Old Vic theatre.

Spacey is due to stand trial in the UK on June 6 on those charges – a date if far yet confirmed. The trial is expected to last four weeks. There is some flexibility on the date of the trial, the judge said, but it is due to end at the end of July.

The actor was released on unconditional bail ahead of Friday's virtual appearance.

On January 16, Spacey is due to give a masterclass at Italy's National Cinema Museum, then receive their lifetime achievement award.

In October, a New York jury sided with Spacey in a civil lawsuit of $40 million, estimating that the Oscar winner did not assault actor Anthony Rapp as a teenager and is not liable for the assault.

Rapp made his first statements in a 2017 BuzzFeed article, in which he said that Spacey picked him up, placed him on his bed, and restrained Rapp in a sexually aggressive manner. The alleged assault took place after a party at Spacey's apartment in New York in 1986. Rapp was 14 at the time and Spacey was 26. The two met while appearing in Broadway productions - Rapp in "Precious Sons" with Ed Harris, Spacey in a Jack Lemmon-led cover of "Long Days Journey Into Night".

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