Crimeupdated 1h ago2 min read
Russell Brand Faces Rape And Sexual Assault Trial As Jury Selection Begins At Southwark Crown Court
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He faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault, and one indecent assault. Allegations pertain to six women between 1999 and 2009 in London and Bournemouth.
Trial begins at Southwark
Russell Brand appeared in London at Southwark Crown Court on Monday for the start of his trial on seven charges of rape and sexual assault involving six women between 1999 and 2009. Brand, 51, faced three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault, and one allegation of indecent assault, and he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The jury selection process began at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, and the trial was expected to last around 10 weeks. The BBC reported that Mr Justice Bennathan began the process of jury selection on Monday and asked potential jurors questions about whether they had heard of Brand and whether they remembered watching a Channel 4 documentary or reading a Times newspaper article.
Bennathan warns jurors
Mr Justice Bennathan told potential jurors, "Many of you will have heard of him," and he said Brand had been on television "a great deal a couple of years ago." The judge warned jurors, "they must not carry out any research about Brand," after he asked whether they remembered watching the Channel 4 documentary or reading the article in the Times newspaper.
The trial was expected to commence on Wednesday, and the prosecution was due to open its case later in the week. Brand arrived at court accompanied by his wife, Laura, and he remained on bail while jury selection continued.
Accusations and reporting limits
Prosecutors said at previous hearings that Brand is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room at a Labour Party conference, grabbing a TV worker's breasts and forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, and kissing and groping a radio station worker.
The New York Times reported that British law gives anyone who makes sexual assault accusations the right to lifelong anonymity, and it said the news media is not allowed to report details that might identify the accusers.
The New York Times also reported that Mr. Brand said in a video posted to his social media channels that he had "never engaged in non-consensual activity."
The New York Times said the trial is scheduled to last up to 10 weeks, so the jury might not give any verdict until December.