Jurors in Russell Brand's UK trial begin deliberations on rape charges
The 12-person jury at Southwark Crown Court must reach a unanimous decision after three weeks of evidence regarding six accusers.
By Aaron Foster ·
Jurors began weighing their verdicts on Tuesday in the London trial of actor and comedian Russell Brand. Judge Joel Bennathan addressed the panel at Southwark Crown Court, instructing them that they must reach a unanimous decision. He told the group, "I can only accept a verdict that is the verdict of all 12 of you."
After roughly an hour of initial discussion, the judge sent the jurors home for the evening. He warned them not to talk about the case with anyone outside the courtroom. Brand, who is currently out on bail, has attended court sessions daily throughout the trial. His wife, Laura Gallacher, has accompanied him to the courthouse each day.
The case involves six women who do not know one another. They accuse Brand of sexual misconduct that occurred between 1999 and 2009. That period covers the time when Brand transitioned from a rising stand-up comedian to a major celebrity in the United Kingdom. Prosecutors described Brand as a sexual predator who attacked the women in various locations.
The alleged incidents took place in a hotel room, the London offices of MTV, a toilet at a London bar, a radio station, a recording studio, and Brand's home. Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault.
During his testimony, Brand admitted to being obsessed with sex during his younger years. He maintained, however, that all of his encounters were consensual. His legal team argued that the defense was weakened by the time gap between the alleged assaults and when the women reported them to police.
Brand's lawyers pointed to a 2023 documentary that featured anonymous allegations against him. They suggested the broadcast influenced the women to come forward. Ian Winter, Brand's lawyer, stated that the well of justice had been corrupted and contaminated by the documentary.
In his closing argument on Monday, Winter urged the jury to distinguish between Brand's behavior and criminal intent. He said it is not a crime to treat women unkindly before, during, or after sex. Winter also noted that it is not criminal to be disrespectful, rude, or to act like a crazy idiot. He told the jury that Brand had an immense amount of sex and none of it was unlawful.
Winter described the behavior as disgusting, distasteful, and immoral, but argued that those traits are irrelevant to the jury's consideration. Brand rose to fame in the early 2000s through television hosting and a BBC radio show. He appeared in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek and was briefly married to Katy Perry. In recent years, he has moved to Florida and built a large online following with videos covering wellness, conspiracy theories, and his religious devotion.
