The jury in the trial of Russell Brand has retired to begin its deliberations regarding seven charges of rape and sexual assault. Brand, 51, stands accused of offences against six women, with the allegations spanning a 10-year period starting in 1999. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. An allegation of indecent assault was amended last week to a charge of attempted indecent assault.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Bennathan instructed the jury, consisting of eight men and four women, that they must reach a unanimous decision on all counts. “I can only accept a verdict from all 12 of you that is a unanimous verdict,” the judge stated. Prior to the jury retiring, the judge concluded his summing up of the evidence by reviewing each count on the indictment.
During the three-week trial at Southwark crown court, prosecutors described Brand as a ruthless, calculated, and manipulative sexual predator. Riel Karmy-Jones KC, the prosecutor, argued in her closing speech on Friday that the six women who testified did not know one another and shared a consistent pattern of experience. She noted that the complainants sought no financial compensation or publicity, suggesting their motivation for coming forward was to find closure.
In response, Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, contended in his closing speech on Monday that a documentary about the comedian had unfairly prejudiced the case, claiming it “poisoned the wells” of justice. The defence also highlighted what were described as “monstrous delays” in the women reporting their accounts to police. Winter further questioned why Brand was accused of “only three rapes in 10 years” out of all the women he had slept with.
Brand arrived at the court on Tuesday morning alongside his wife, Laura Brand, and members of his entourage, wearing a knee-length black wool coat over a black suit with a long white scarf. He offered no comment to the press.
