NEW YORK –
The intercourse abuse trial of actor Kevin Spacey hit a snag Thursday when the choose introduced one in every of Spacey’s high attorneys had come down with COVID-19.
U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan informed the jury that legal professional Jennifer Keller was lacking as a result of she had examined constructive for the virus Thursday morning after feeling signs Wednesday evening. Kaplan, after placing precautions in place, determined to let the trial go ahead.
Facemasks are usually elective within the courthouse and Keller was not carrying one Wednesday when she questioned actor Anthony Rapp about his declare that Spacey made a sexual advance on him in 1986 when he was 14 years outdated. At the time, Spacey was 26. The “House of Cards” star, now 63, has denied Rapp’s accusation.
Rapp’s attorneys had been nearing the top of the presentation of their case in opposition to Spacey when Keller bought sick.
On Thursday, members of Spacey’s protection staff, together with Spacey, and members of the jury wore masks within the courtroom together with anybody else who had been in shut proximity to Keller. When an aide to the choose supplied coronavirus dwelling check kits to anybody who needed them, Spacey and others on the protection desk raised their fingers.
Testimony within the trial thus far has targeted on Rapp’s declare that Spacey approached him after a celebration at his Manhattan house whereas Rapp was sitting on a mattress watching tv.
Rapp, now 50, testified that Spacey lifted him onto a mattress and pressed his clothed physique in opposition to Rapp’s clothed physique earlier than Rapp squirmed out and bumped into a rest room earlier than leaving the house.
Through his attorneys, Spacey has denied that the encounter ever occurred, although he has not but testified. He arrived later than typical on the courthouse Thursday.
Rapp is in search of $40 million in damages for what he describes as psychological hurt.
Lisa Rocchio, a forensic psychologist who examined Rapp, testified Wednesday that he had skilled “a tremendous amount of shame, guilt and confusion” after his encounter with Spacey.
Her testimony resumed Thursday, when she informed jurors that Rapp skilled delayed-onset post-traumatic stress syndrome that was triggered by experiences that film mogul Harvey Weinstein had been accused of sexual abuse by quite a few girls.
Rocchio was requested how Rapp may have been traumatized if there was no sexual contact and he bought away.
“The trauma is in the needing to flee” from a perceived menace, she mentioned.
A lawyer for Spacey sought on cross-examination to counsel that Rapp may have been traumatized by different cases when he had undesirable or uncomfortable sexual encounters that Rocchio famous in her examination of him – not by the alleged abuse by Spacey.
The plaintiff attorneys are anticipated to relaxation their case when the trial resumes Monday, barring any extra COVID-19 problems. It was unclear when Spacey may take the stand in his personal protection.
The Associated Press doesn’t normally identify folks alleging sexual assault until they arrive ahead publicly, as Rapp has finished.