Hollywood Actor Kevin Spacey Appears In UK Court For Sexual Assault Trial

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey returned to a London courtroom on Wednesday to stand trial for a dozen sexual offences which allegedly occurred more than a decade ago.

The 63-year-old star of “American Beauty” and drama series “House of Cards” is facing a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in south London.

The prosecution will begin outlining its case against him on Friday, once preliminary legal arguments have been resolved and a jury selected.

Spacey was in court Wednesday for the start of proceedings, arriving by taxi with his legal team not long after 8:00 am (0700 GMT).

Dozens of photographers and journalists were already massed outside to capture his arrival. Walking past the cameras, the Hollywood star looked relaxed and gave a small wave to the gathered media.

Spacey has been on unconditional bail since first appearing in court in Britain last year.

The actor’s stellar career has been halted by large numbers of allegations of sexual offences, although he has not been convicted of any crime.

Last year he appeared at London’s Old Bailey court to plead not guilty to five offences against three men, including four counts of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

They allegedly took place in 2005 and 2008 in London, and in 2013 in Gloucestershire, western England.

In November, prosecutors then announced seven additional charges involving another man, taking the total number of counts Spacey faces in the UK to 12.