Hollywood actor and formerly accused sexual predator Kevin Spacey has been found not guilty of sexual assault by a London court.
After four weeks of testimony, the jury returned from three days of deliberation with the verdict, clearing the actor of guilt on his 64th birthday.
"I imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today," Spacey said, according to the Daily Mail. "But I would like to say that I'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts, carefully, before they reached their decision."
"I am humbled by the outcome today," he added. "I also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse, the security, Evan Lowenstein, and all those who took care of us every single day, my legal team...for being here every day."
The accusations against Spacey were of unwanted and unwelcomed aggressive homosexual behavior. Multiple men testified that Spacey would grab their crotches. One accused Spacey performing a sex act on an unconscious man.
The prosecution claimed in the trial that Spacey's celebrity status helped him get away with it for years, but the jury decided there wasn't enough evidence outside of the testimonies to convict Spacey.
Agnew emphasized that the four men's accounts were similar not because they had conspired to bring Spacey down, but because groping was reportedly Spacey's "trademark" move, according to the prosecution.
Spacey's defense lawyer said during closing arguments Friday that three of the men are liars, and he suggested jurors not convict him for making a "clumsy pass" at a fourth man.
Spacey's team claimed that everything was consensual and the accusers were feeling vindictive. They did not deny that Spacey conducted himself with such behavior, but that it wasn't assault.
Some are skeptical of the ruling, with many noting that THREE of Spacey's accusers died shortly after making accusations back in 2019.
In the eyes of the law, Spacey is a free man. But as to the court of public opinion, and beyond that, a return to acting, the jury is still out.
