Audio By Carbonatix
An actor who claims he was sexually assaulted by Kevin Spacey has reached a settlement with the Old Vic theatre.
Ruari Cannon, who has waived his right to anonymity, was an actor at the London venue when Spacey was its artistic director.
He alleged that Spacey, who has denied the allegations, assaulted him at a theatre after-party at the Savoy Hotel, as well as at the Old Vic's theatre bar on a separate occasion.
In a statement, the Old Vic theatre said: "Ruari Cannon and The Old Vic have reached a mutually agreed out-of-court settlement, the precise terms of which are confidential."
It added: "This settlement has been agreed without any admission of liability, having regard to the costs and impact on all parties of continuing litigation. This statement has been mutually agreed and there will be no further comment."
Cannon is continuing to sue Spacey at the High Court. Two other anonymous individuals, whose allegations were the subject of criminal trials in July 2023 which cleared Spacey, are also suing him.
One of the anonymous complainants says that Spacey assaulted him while the man was working as a driver. The other said that he had gone up to Stacey's flat after meeting him at the Old Vic, and that he didn't recall how he passed out or went to sleep, but woke up to find Spacey assaulting him.
Spacey denies any non-consensual contact with the men.
At a hearing at the High Court in London, lawyers representing the three claimants have said that evidence from seven other witnesses alleging similar abusive behaviour by Spacey should be heard when the case comes to trial.
They also said all three cases should be heard together rather than at separate trials.
Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC told the court that "similar evidence" from the seven individuals showed a "propensity for particular behaviour including sexual assault".
She said that there were a number of accounts from men that Spacey "would build up something of a relationship with them and then to assault them".
She said that almost without exception the witnesses were young men who looked up to Spacey, and that Spacey had used his power and influence as a famous celebrity to assault them.
William McCormick KC, representing Spacey, told the court that Spacey's alleged behaviour was not capable of constituting a pattern because so many of the alleged facts were not similar.
He told the judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, that "it's not enough to say any [previous alleged] sexual assault can be relied upon" to state that the men's claims against Spacey should be believed by the court.
He added that it would require something that was unusual, something that was "strikingly similar".
The judge said a decision would be made at a later date.
The trials are due to begin on 9 November.
Latest Stories
-
President Mahama announces road construction projects in Zongo communities
4 minutes -
SA officials claim only 10 of nearly 300 Ghanaian migrants repatriated were legally in the country
16 minutes -
Volta MMDCEs demand extension of Ghana Card registration for school children
19 minutes -
WHO urges ceasefire in Congo to contain Ebola as cases surge
20 minutes -
New head of Hamas’ military wing killed in Gaza City strikes, Israel saysÂ
21 minutes -
Dozens killed in Lebanon as Israeli troops expand ground campaignÂ
26 minutes -
Rights group accuses UAE of training Colombian mercenaries for Sudan’s warÂ
52 minutes -
DR Congo appeals to FIFA for World Cup ticket refunds amid Ebola travel restrictionsÂ
55 minutes -
CUTS lauds BoG on suspension of proposed MTN new charges
1 hour -
Photos: Eid al-Adha observed in joy, prayer
1 hour -
Casa Royal joins The Build Project as official tiles partner
1 hour -
Photos: Eid al-Adha celebration draws thousands to Independence Square
2 hours -
Mahama urges Ghanaians to uphold peace and reject extremism at Eid al-Adha
2 hours -
Kobbie Mainoo should be representing Ghana – Kurt OkrakuÂ
2 hours -
Eid al-Adha: Mahama urges youth to embrace discipline and national development values
3 hours