Three males accuse Kevin Spacey of abusing them at occasions between 2000 and 2015 after assembly him when he was inventive director on the Outdated Vic theatre

Civil trials between actor Kevin Spacey and three males who allege that he sexually assaulted them are set to start in October subsequent 12 months, the Excessive Courtroom has heard.

Ruari Cannon, who has waived his proper to anonymity, together with two others who haven’t, declare Mr Spacey abused them at occasions between 2000 and 2015 after assembly the Hollywood star by means of his place as inventive director on the Outdated Vic theatre.

They’re taking authorized motion on the Excessive Courtroom in opposition to Mr Spacey, whereas Mr Cannon can be bringing motion in opposition to the Outdated Vic. Mr Spacey denies the allegations. In 2023, he was acquitted of 9 intercourse offences regarding 4 males.

Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC, for the trio, mentioned in written submissions for a listening to on Wednesday that the circumstances ought to be heard collectively to keep away from the lads and Mr Spacey giving proof greater than as soon as.

She mentioned: “If the circumstances have been heard individually, the defendant would want to offer proof in every case and be out there for trial on three separate events. Every of the claimants might be a witness within the different claimants’ circumstances and quite a few different witnesses might be known as in assist of every claimant’s case.”

William McCormick KC, for Mr Spacey, mentioned in written submissions that one of many circumstances, introduced by a person often known as LNP, ought to be heard within the county court docket, separate from that of Mr Cannon and the third man, often known as GHI. He mentioned: “On a rational evaluation, the one frequent characteristic is Kevin Spacey.

“The truth that he met, or within the case of Cannon, is alleged to have met, every claimant within the context of his work on the Outdated Vic takes issues no additional. The circumstances of the alleged assaults are markedly completely different and happen a few years aside.”

Mrs Justice Lambert, sitting with Choose David Cook dinner, set a provisional three-week window for all three circumstances to be heard within the Excessive Courtroom subsequent October. Claire Glasgow, of Fieldfisher, the regulation agency representing the three males, mentioned after the listening to: “Right this moment was end result for the claimants that every one three claims keep within the Excessive Courtroom and we stay up for receiving Mr Spacey’s defence on LNP.

“The decide confirmed that every one three claims might be case-managed collectively in order that comparable allegations might be tried on the similar time or sequentially by the identical decide. This can hopefully ease among the stress for our purchasers.”