Elton John testifies at Kevin Spacey’s sexual assault trial

On Monday, Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, appeared as defense witnesses in the British trial of actor Kevin Spacey, who is accused of several counts of sexual assault.

Giving evidence via video link from Monaco, Mr. John was asked about his memories of attending Mr. Spacey’s white tie and tiara ball, an event that Mr. John and Mr. Furnish hosted annually at their British home for more than a decade to raise money to fight AIDS.

The event was mentioned several times in the case, which began last month. One of the complainants told British police that Mr Spacey touched him several times without his consent, including once in 2004 or 2005 when the actor grabbed his genitals so hard he nearly swerved out of the way as they drove to the White Tie and Tiara Ball.

The complainant said he then threatened to fire Mr. Spacey, who laughed and said the complainant’s anger had infuriated him.

Under British law, it is illegal for anyone to identify complainants in sexual assault cases, or to post information that might lead to their identification.

On Monday morning, Mr. John, 76, was asked if Mr. Spacey had ever attended his ball. Mr. Spacey attended once, in 2001, the singer said, later adding that he did not remember Mr. Spacey visiting his home after that event.

“He came in on a private plane and got right into the ball,” Mr. John said during his 13-minute appearance. Asked about confirmation that Mr Spacey had arrived on a private jet, Mr John said he assumed that was the case as he did not believe anyone had ever worn a white tie on a commercial flight.

Testifying separately via video link, Mr. Furnish, 60, said he also did not remember Mr. Spacey attending the ball after 2001. Mr. Furnish said he looked through old issues of OK! Ball, Mr. Spacey has not appeared in any photos after the 2001 event.

Mr. Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts related to incidents that prosecutors say involved four men and occurred from 2001 to 2013. For most of that time, the actor was the artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre, a major. London theatre. Mr. John told the court that in 2002 he was the chairman of the board of trustees that ran the theatre.