Elton John testifies in Kevin Spacey's sexual assault case
File images of Kevin Spacey and Elton John
Elton John appeared remotely in court on Monday to testify for actor Kevin Spacey who is under trial on sexual assault charges.John testified remotely in Spacey's defence, confirming that the actor only attended one of the musician's annual gala parties in 2001. One of Spacey's alleged victims claimed the actor assaulted him while they were driving to John's White Tie & Tiara Ball in 2004 or 2005.
On Monday, John's husband David Furnish also testified and stated that Spacey had attended the event in 2001. Furnish said he had reviewed photographs taken at the party from 2001 to 2005 and Spacey only appeared in images that one year. He said all guests were photographed each year.
The disgraced actor is on trial after pleading not guilty to charges of sexual assault, indecent assault and causing a person to engage in penetrating sexual activity without consent.
Elton John's testimony
John claimed Spacey arrived by private jet in 2001 for the event. Furnish added that such an appearance was a big deal. "He was an Oscar-winning actor and there was a lot of buzz and excitement that he was at the ball," Furnish said.
Spacey's alleged victim explained he may have gotten the date wrong, but insisted the actor had violently groped him while he was driving a vehicle, and he almost ran off the road.
Kevin Spacey on trial
The Oscar-winning actor first took the stand on Thursday last week, where he denied violently groping one of his accusers. Instead, the actor painted a picture that the two were involved in an 'intimate' and 'somewhat sexual' relationship for the jury.
"I never thought that (the man) I knew would... 20 years later stab me in the back," he said.
While Spacey's alleged victims have claimed the actor aggressively groped their privates, Spacey has contradicted them, saying that it was merely 'gentle stroking'.
"It wasn’t like a caress," one man testified. "It was like a cobra coming out and getting hold." Spacey called the allegation "madness" during Thursday's testimony.
