Russell Brand Appears in Court for Rape Trial — SkimNews
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- Russell Brand, 51, appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court on Monday as jury selection opened for his trial on three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault — all of which he denies.
- The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 1999 and 2009 in London and Bournemouth, involving six female complainants.
- Judge Mr Justice Bennathan told potential jurors about a Channel 4 documentary and Times newspaper article from roughly three years ago; six of the 20 whittled-down candidates raised their hands when asked if they remembered.
- The trial is expected to commence Wednesday and run approximately six weeks, with jurors potentially required until 11 December.
- Brand arrived in a grey suit and sunglasses accompanied by his wife Laura, having shifted from UK TV stardom — Big Brother's Big Mouth, BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music — to a Florida-based podcasting career.
Why it matters: With seven serious charges, six complainants, and a projected six-week timeline running until 11 December, Brand's trial is an unusually lengthy celebrity prosecution built on decade-old allegations that a Channel 4 documentary and Times exposé first surfaced three years ago.
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