trial at sex offences at that trial at southwark crown court, the hollywood star who is 64 had been accused of sexually assaulting four men in the period between 2001 and 2013. those verdicts just coming in period between 2001 and 2013. those verdictsjust coming in on period between 2001 and 2013. those verdicts just coming in on the last few minutes clearing kevin spacey of all the charges, these are some of the pictures of the actor arriving for proceedings. let's go straight back to graham satchell who was there and reporters inside the courthouse saying there were tears in his eyes as he was cleared of all of those charges. yes that's right. we're hearing from our colleagues in court that you can imagine mr stacey was very pensive when thejury imagine mr stacey was very pensive when the jury was called back in but he had the jury say not guilty nine times on nine separate sex offence charges and he started crying in the

dock and then he hugged his manager and legal teams, thanks to the court staff. this was the verdict that obviously he had wanted and hoped for. it has been a trying month here at southwark crown court. i think for all involved. there were four separate men who were young at the time these alleged offences were said to have taken place between 2004 and 2013. they all claim to pretty much the same thing, that kevin spacey had sexually assaulted them, grabbed their crotch in a nonconsensual way and touch them in ways that they didn't want. sometimes in ways that they said was violent and left them feeling winded. 0ne violent and left them feeling winded. one said that kevin spacey attacked like a cobra. 0ne winded. one said that kevin spacey attacked like a cobra. one said that he had been driving when kevin spacey had grabbed his crotch and forced him off the road. probably the most serious allegation came from a young man who was an aspiring actor who met kevin spacey and wanted a mental ship. actor who met kevin spacey and wanted a mentalship. he actor who met kevin spacey and wanted a mental ship. he said they had gone for a drink and ended up in

his flat here in london in waterloo and that kevin spacey had performed and that kevin spacey had performed a sex act on end, oral sex when he had been asleep. so, you can imagine it would have been difficult for those for men to give that evidence here in southwark crown court and difficult for kevin spacey to hear that evidence. he himself took the dock for two days here at southwark crown court where every single allegation was gone over with a fine tooth comb. he explained to the court that his world had fallen apart and exploded when these allegations first serviced. he had lost his job, allegations first serviced. he had lost hisjob, work, reputation, money, everything. today, after considering the verdicts of more than ten hours, thejurors have decided that kevin spacey is not guilty on any of the charges that he has faced. more than 12 hours and 26 minutes to be exact that the jury was out for

and graham, you were talking there about the various complainants and they were questioned, weren't they, from spacey�*s lawyer and a seeking financial gain are attempting to further their career or giving false accounts to the jury? really robust questioning of those witnesses. that was certainly — questioning of those witnesses. that was certainly one _ questioning of those witnesses. twat was certainly one line of defence. why were these men making these allegations? kevin spacey�*s lawyer said. and the implication was that they were doing it for the money all of the men denied that although some said that there would potentially be a civil claim made. could be a civil claim made. but it was certainly a thought that in the juror�*s mind the potentially this was all about money. the prosecution were very adamant that this was a pattern of behaviour on kevin spacey�*s part.

that he had, if the men were to be believed, continued this sexually aggressive behaviour therapy area of almost ten years. as i say, thejury have now come back and found him, mr spacey, not guilty of any of the charges. mr spacey had a similar case in america at the end of last year which also found that the case against him was not proven. i should save, that when these allegations first surveys in 2017, the old vic which was the theatre where mr spacey worked, they launch their own investigation because they were obviously terribly of worried about the number of allegations that were coming out. at that time, 20 different people who work there came forward to express... they gave testimonies of alleged inappropriate behaviour. but they were unable to

raise them because mr spacey was a powerful man. in that investigation, the old vic said there was a cult of personality around the star and they have subsequently changed their systems. it's not the allegations haven't been made, allegations have been made repeatedly by a number of old men, different men over time. four have ended up in court here. but the question that the defence of askedis but the question that the defence of asked is whether in the end this was criminal behaviour. it's an interesting defence this, but they said that their client, mr spacey liked sex. he said it's not a crime to like sex, even if you are famous. it is not a crime to have casual sex. spacey is a man who is promiscuous but he just wants to be a normal man who laughs, has a beer, smokes weed and spends time with people he is attracted to. in the

end, that is what the jury decided was right, that mr spacey may have been promiscuous but did it in the end in the end add up to criminal activity? and the verdict are from this jury activity? and the verdict are from thisjury and this activity? and the verdict are from this jury and this court is now. —— no. this “ury and this court is now. -- no. ., . ., , this “ury and this court is now. -- no. ., _, , ., ., no. through the course of the trial a number of _ no. through the course of the trial a number of famous _ no. through the course of the trial a number of famous names - no. through the course of the trial a number of famous names gave l a number of famous names gave evidence. probably the most prominent was sir eltonjohn. that prominent was sir elton john. that is riuht. prominent was sir elton john. that is right- this _ prominent was sir elton john. that is right. this was _ prominent was sir elton john. that is right. this was a _ prominent was sir elton john. that is right. this was a very _ prominent was sir elton john. twat is right. this was a very brief appearance from a zoom call from monaco. sir eltonjohn gave evidence along with his husband. this came down at the end to a clarification about one specific allegation. 0ne about one specific allegation. one of the claimants had claimed that he was driving mr spacey to a charity event, sir eltonjohn's gala, one of his charity galas in 2001. and the claimant had said that on the way there on that drive that mr spacey

had grabbed his crotch in a violent way and forced the road. there elton john was called to give evidence just to clarify that date and he confirmed to the court that kevin spacey had not gone to that event in 2001 but it could be 2002, 2003 but it certainly wasn't 2001. but you are right, there were ten character witnesses in the end they gave evidence in support of kevin spacey including chris lemmon who is jack lemmon's sun. the remarkable hollywood actor. kevin spacey was in the film with jack lemmon, al pacino, alec baldwin and others. not a great box office success but a real cult cinema and actually an amazing film. chris lemmon gave evidence in support of kevin spacey as did ten others including his niece who told the jury how kevin spacey had paid for health care for

his mother who had an inoperable brain tumourand said his mother who had an inoperable brain tumour and said he was a remarkable man. many people said he was generous, kind, hard—working man. it was one of the few moments that he had tears in his eyes and was very emotional. there was emotional again. today, as the jurors return then verdict of nine straight not guilty verdicts. and jurors return then verdict of nine straight not guilty verdicts. and of course, straight not guilty verdicts. and of course. today _ straight not guilty verdicts. and of course, today is _ straight not guilty verdicts. and of course, today is the _ straight not guilty verdicts. and of course, today is the actor's - course, today is the actor's birthday. he turned 64 today. so this coming in the last half an hour with all those not guilty verdicts on those nine charges. do we know in terms of the choreography of what is likely to happen in the next little while? ~ ., likely to happen in the next little while? ~ . likely to happen in the next little while? . , ., while? what i can say is that kevin sace while? what i can say is that kevin spacey has — while? what i can say is that kevin spacey has been — while? what i can say is that kevin spacey has been very _ while? what i can say is that kevin spacey has been very public, - while? what i can say is that kevin spacey has been very public, very| spacey has been very public, very visible in this trial. you know

covering court cases that quite often the man or woman in the dock scurries and a side door and you never quite see them. he has walked up never quite see them. he has walked up the street every day. he has been filmed every day. he has smiled to the gathering public who are out here today. so i wouldn't be at all surprised if we hearfrom mr spacey now that he has a free man. he said in an interview with german media that before this trial started that he wanted to rehabilitate his career. he said that he wanted to work again and he wanted to act again and, you can imagine him wanting to take control of the narrative, if you like. and give a speech. if he does give a speech it may well be one of the most important of his life. he came today not knowing if he would leave court at all because of course the charges that he faced, one in particular that he faced, one in particular that of performing a sex act on someone when they were asleep would,

i think, undoubtedly resulted in a custodial sentence had he been found guilty. as you say today is the 64th birthday and he may well have the best birthday present anyone could possibly imagine. we don't know for certain what will happen in the next few moments but it may well be that we do hear from few moments but it may well be that we do hearfrom mr spacey and i wouldn't be surprised if we do. we are looking at the court sketches that have been done over the last few days. you talked about those proceedings in america as well. in terms of the timeframe this has hung over the actor, what is it? it is a number of years now, isn't it, in total? it number of years now, isn't it, in total? , ., ., ., , number of years now, isn't it, in total? , . . ., , , total? it is. the allegations first a- eared total? it is. the allegations first appeared in _ total? it is. the allegations first appeared in an _ total? it is. the allegations first appeared in an article _ total? it is. the allegations first appeared in an article in - total? it is. the allegations first appeared in an article in buzz i total? it is. the allegations first i appeared in an article in buzz feed in 2017. that was an allegation from an american actor who claims that he was inappropriately touched way back now in 1986 when he was just 14. he

subsequently became an actor and is now 50. he took mr spacey to civil court in new york and was seeking damages in millions of dollars. yes that case was not proved so he walked away from that. but these allegations first surfaced in 2017. it was a key moment really for kevin spacey because he had been cast in a film which he was dropped from. he was replaced on another project. he was replaced on another project. he was due to be completing another season of house of cards. that was scrapped and he was dropped from that. these allegations of an absolutely devastating impact on mr spacey himself. house of cards

itself really announce netflix as a production company, someone that could make big stuff and the first thing that they made was an absolutely extraordinary success and kevin spacey was the heart and centre of that. and really carried it as the man who became president. yes, this has been hanging over shadow hanging over kevin spacey since 2017 and every time he has ended up in a course of law he has been exonerated and cleared. thanks ve much been exonerated and cleared. thanks very much for— been exonerated and cleared. thanks very much for taking _ been exonerated and cleared. thanks very much for taking us _ been exonerated and cleared. thanks very much for taking us through - very much for taking us through those original verdicts, not guilty on all nine accounts. we are expecting potentially to see kevin spacey and his legal team, as you can see that all of the microphones are set up so as soon as the actor

or his legal team come out we will hear those comments. so we are keeping a close eye across that. let's look at the background to all of this that graham was touching on. our special correspondent has been taking a look at the charges faced by kevin spacey. 0scar taking a look at the charges faced by kevin spacey. oscar winner, american beauty star, acclaimed actor, house of cards lead, director and jury decided, an innocent man. for all the awards and acclaim, this could be kevin spacey�*s most satisfying moment. for more than three weeks, the actor, returning to england as he said he would to defend himself listened as allegations were made at southwark crown court that he was a sexual bully who had assaulted men. he called the case week and said the men were after money or in one case hejust mistakenly made men were after money or in one case he just mistakenly made a pass and the jury agreed with him.

he just mistakenly made a pass and thejury agreed with him. during he just mistakenly made a pass and the jury agreed with him. during the trial, he had the support of high profile friends including sir elton john and his husband who had given evidence in his defence. the actor had faced a civil trial on separate allegations in america. last year jury allegations in america. last year jury there had also dismissed those claims. in court in london the house of cards actor wept as he described of cards actor wept as he described how after the allegations his world had exploded causing his work to dry up. most of the allegations took place when kevin spacey was artistic director of the old vic theatre. even though the criminal charges were played that there were questions about his behaviour. after the theatre commissioned an investigation in 2013, 20 people alleged inappropriate behaviour by mr spacey, most of them were former staff or were men. it’s

mr spacey, most of them were former staff or were men.— staff or were men. it's the weirdest thin. staff or were men. it's the weirdest thin ._ it staff or were men. it's the weirdest thing- it feels _ staff or were men. it's the weirdest thing. it feels like _ staff or were men. it's the weirdest thing. it feels like i've _ staff or were men. it's the weirdest thing. it feels like i've been - staff or were men. it's the weirdest thing. it feels like i've been in - staff or were men. it's the weirdest thing. it feels like i've been in a - thing. it feels like i've been in a coma for about 20 years. the american _ coma for about 20 years. the american beauty _ coma for about 20 years. the american beauty start leaves england an innocent man. able to presume a career that reached the highest levels. now let's go back to southwark crown court and show the live pictures because the microphones are all set up there. in the next little while we are expecting to see the legal teams and perhaps the actor himself, kevin spacey after all of those charges. he was found not guilty on all nine counts. graham satchell al corresponding is there at the court and is responding as each of those counts came in. a huge relief for the hollywood actor.— the hollywood actor. that's absolutely _ the hollywood actor. that's absolutely right. _ the hollywood actor. that's absolutely right. he - the hollywood actor. that's absolutely right. he has - the hollywood actor. that's| absolutely right. he has sat the hollywood actor. that's - absolutely right. he has sat through every single day of the trial and had, frankly, very difficult

evidence at times, sexually explicit evidence at times, sexually explicit evidence of what he is alleged to have done from four separate men. who were in their 20s when these alleged events are said to have taken place. they are now in their 30s and 40s. it is mr spacey�*s 64th birthday today. he would have been in his early 40s when all this is alleged to have happened. 0ver in his early 40s when all this is alleged to have happened. over the course of the last month, you could say that tension has been building up say that tension has been building up and he has been determined to be here for every single moment of that. he said when the jury came back into court this afternoon he sat with a pensive face and then he had the jury say not guilty to the nine charges, sex offence charges, that he was facing. he started crying in the dock as he heard there is verdicts and then hugged his manager and legal team still in tears and thanked the court staff. you can see the relief that the

conclusion of this trial has brought for mr spacey who has said that he is determined to do whatever he can to rehabilitate his career, a career that came to a juddering halt in 2017 when these allegations first surfaced. he was dropped from a number of productions that he was supposed to be taking part in, to films and the final series of house of cards in netflix. he has not of cards in netflix. he has not worked since and he remains determined to try and get back to work to rehabilitate his career and affirm the fact that as far as this caught here in london is concerned that he is a free man and not guilty. that he is a free man and not uuil . �* , , ., that he is a free man and not ruil _ m that he is a free man and not uuil ., guilty. as you say he was in the dot aaivin guilty. as you say he was in the dot giving evidence _ guilty. as you say he was in the dot giving evidence and _ guilty. as you say he was in the dot giving evidence and sell— guilty. as you say he was in the dot giving evidence and sell for- guilty. as you say he was in the dot giving evidence and sell for a - giving evidence and sell for a couple of days and some very, very robust questioning. he had to be incredibly open, didn't he? he did.

and i think, _ incredibly open, didn't he? he did. and i think, in _ incredibly open, didn't he? he did. and i think, in the _ incredibly open, didn't he? he did. and i think, in the end, _ incredibly open, didn't he? he did. and i think, in the end, he - incredibly open, didn't he? he did. and i think, in the end, he was - and i think, in the end, he was honest about his sexual promiscuity if i can put it that way. there was no stone left unturned, this was a court case, a serious court case. sex offender court cases are difficult to listen to for all sides. and the prosecution were certainly robust with him. they said there was a pattern of behaviour here that he was constantly grabbing men's genitals and that he was aggressive and oppressive. that it was intimidating behaviour and at the heart of this was an enormous imbalance of power. that kevin spacey was a global celebrity and actor, very famous and much older than the men in question. he was described by some of the men as a vile sexual predator and atrocious

disgusting and slippery man, sneaky and difficult. he denied all the charges against him he said that some of the men were consensual and that some of them were lying and they were motivated by money and that the case against him was weak. his defence lawyer said that it isn't a crime to be promiscuous, it's not a crime to like sex. it's not a crime to have casual sex. 0r not a crime to have casual sex. or that all mr spacey wanted in the end was to be a normal guy, to drink beer, to smoke weed, to spend time with younger people that he is attracted to. i think, in the end thatis attracted to. i think, in the end that is where the jury is landed. although there was a great deal of sexual acts going on, that none of it related to a crime.— sexual acts going on, that none of it related to a crime. these charges were between _ it related to a crime. these charges were between 2004 _ it related to a crime. these charges were between 2004 and _ it related to a crime. these charges were between 2004 and 2013. - it related to a crime. these charges were between 2004 and 2013. as . it related to a crime. these charges l were between 2004 and 2013. as you are saying a little earlier that the old vic acknowledging there was a

cult around the star but they have moved to change all of that. that's riuht. you moved to change all of that. that's right- you can _ moved to change all of that. that's right. you can imagine _ moved to change all of that. that's right. you can imagine being - moved to change all of that. that's right. you can imagine being the i right. you can imagine being the management at the the old vic and being more than slightly alarmed that yourformer being more than slightly alarmed that your former director is facing serious sexual allegations. they held an internal confidential inquiry and this was in 2017. the results of that inquiry were made public in november 2017. they said that 20 members of staff had come forward to give testimonies of alleged inappropriate behaviour. those affected felt unable to raise concerns of the time, partly because they build they wouldn't be believed but also that mr spacey was so powerful in that organisation that they feared for their own jobs. and the old veldt said that even though it wasn't possible to verify any of

the claims made, there were no payments, settlements, they say, as you said, that there was a cult of personality around the star and that mr spacey operated without accountability. and that they have subsequently change their systems and they apologise to staff. this is where we are. there is no doubt that a lot of men have been extraordinarily unhappy at the behaviour of mr spacey. and complaints had been made many, many complaints had been made many, many complaints over the years. and that internal investigation they said they were unable to verify them. here at this court the jury has decided that he is not guilty of a criminal offence. that is where we are. mr spacey is a free man and he is not guilty. ilet are. mr spacey is a free man and he is not guilty-— is not guilty. let me 'ust bring our is not guilty. let me 'ust bring your viewers h is not guilty. let me 'ust bring your viewers right _ is not guilty. let me just bring your viewers right up - is not guilty. let me just bring your viewers right up to - is not guilty. let me just bring your viewers right up to date |

your viewers right up to date because a statement has just come in from the crown prosecution service. let me just read it as we continue to stay with these pictures from southwark county court, some of the still pictures drawn during the course of this trial. the cps says, following the non—guilty verdicts in the kevin spacey trial, prosecutors respect the decision of the court. the statement goes on to say, following a thorough investigation by the metropolitan police, the cps made the decision to charge kevin spacey with sexual offences. the function of the cps is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence but to make fair independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges. it is the role of the jury to consider the charges and we respect the decision of the court. the statement just released by the crown prosecution service and potentially i suppose, graham,

prosecution service and potentially isuppose, graham, that prosecution service and potentially i suppose, graham, that we may hear from those cps lawyers outside. we have all the microphones there. we are expecting perhaps to see kevin spacey but undoubtably we will hear from his legal team. the potentially we could hear two from the cps. that's a possibility. quite often they do as they did in that statement justify their decision they do as they did in that statementjustify their decision to bring charges, notjust in a statement but on camera. we are trying to get intelligence as to whether kevin spacey or anyone else will come to give a statement. he may have left by a side door which would be unusual. as we say, he has been up of the cameras very publicly every single day during this long trial. but it is entirely up to him. he may simply want to be decompressing with his team. i think it is an interesting statement from the cps, what it demonstrates is what in their view was the seriousness of the allegations that

had been made against mr spacey. it is no doubt that the men who gave evidence did so in good faith and so, it is a tricky balance, isn't it? and as they say, it is up to the jury it? and as they say, it is up to the jury in the end to decide. where does the line fall between promiscuous sexual activity and criminal sexual activity. potentially a clumsy way of putting it but you get my point. as far as the crown prosecution were concerned, as they thought these were serious enough to put in front of a jury but that is the legal system, we trust the jury to weigh the evidence and come to a decision. you said a short while ago that kevin spacey giving an interview to a german publication, making it clear that after a trial and after, as you are saying undoubtedly is going to have to decompress all of

this, he intends to re—establish his career, doesn't it? i this, he intends to re-establish his career, doesn't it?— career, doesn't it? ithink it does. that was certainly _ career, doesn't it? ithink it does. that was certainly his _ career, doesn't it? ithink it does. that was certainly his view - career, doesn't it? ithink it does. that was certainly his view given l career, doesn't it? ithink it does. l that was certainly his view given an interview before this trial started. he was clear in court when he gave his evidence over a period of two days. it was the only time really that he became emotional giving evidence explaining the impact that these allegations had had on him and his career. he said that his world had exploded and that he had lost hisjob, lost his reputation and lost all of his money. and he was absolutely determined to work again and that work is everything for him so that is undoubtedly his hope now. whether he will be accepted back into hollywood that is another question. july july 2023 is shaping up to bea be a pretty wet month, particularly in northern ireland and northern

england we have had twice the expected july rainfall and if you have expected it, more rain on the way for the final few days of the month. a bit of sunshine here and there but there is an area of rain spreading eastwards, for northern ireland and wales, western parts of britain. across the north—east of scotland and eastern parts of england we will hold onto some brighter and drier weather into the early evening. temperatures between 16 and 24 celsius, a little bit cooler towards the northern ireland was. into this evening overnight, that area of rain tracks its way eastwards. some brisk winds in the south—east as well. a spell of wet and blustery weather to many of us through this evening and tonight. 0nce through this evening and tonight. once the rain gradually clears towards the east, it is still looking really muggy out there. temperatures 14 to 16 celsius for most of us. we've still got this area of low pressure not far away as we had through thursday. the lingering france will give some rain across scotland, parts of southern england as well. down towards the

channel island, we will see rain through the parts of the day. slowly lifting northward through parts of sunday. thursday some drizzly rain. some sunshine through the afternoon, sunny spells, a few scattered showers. certainly not as dry everywhere. temperatures 16 to 24 celsius. and it will be the start of the fifth and final ashes series at the fifth and final ashes series at the oval. we will have a lot of cloud, could bring the odd shower but not consistent rain. into friday, quite a bit of dry weather and actually a similar picture for much of the uk, not a bad day on friday. we are looking at sunny spells, could be some showers moving through anywhere. temperatures around 18 to 24 celsius and most of us, still call the towards a northern ireland. 0n the weekend, the weather tracks its way eastwards, bringing some showers which will be more frequent across parts of scotland, northern ireland,

north—west england as well where it has already then very wet. fewer showers further south that there will be some at times, brini c as well. temperatures remain a little bit lower.

kevin spacey is found not guilty on sexual assault charges in london.

a special report from yemen where 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance after eight years of brutal civil war. wildfires rage in at least nine mediterranean countries amid another day of intense heat. russia's defence minister, sergei shoigu arrives in north korea as part of the first foreign delegation to visit since covid. first at straight back to southwark crown court because in the last 40 minutes we have had those not guilty verdicts surrounding the hollywood actor kevin spacey, not guilty on nine different accounts. let's go back to graham satchell who is there for us. graham, take us through it for us. graham, take us through it for any of you is justjoining us.

matthew, this trial has been going