Russell Brand's wife has told his rape trial that her husband is "caring" and "kind", with honesty at the centre of their marriage, while also revealing he slept with other women when they first dated.
Laura Brand, the sister of TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher, gave evidence at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday. She said the couple rekindled their romance in 2015, married two years later, and now have three children together.
Wife's testimony
She told jurors: "Russell, my husband, is caring, he is kind, he is a wonderful father to our children. He is an amazingly attentive husband. He has got an eye for detail I've never known before. The way he treats me is to really know me, I feel very seen by him in every way. I love him very much."
The court heard Brand was introduced to his future wife in August 2006 after her sister arranged tickets for one of his shows. She described the show as "extremely entertaining", including "very explicit" material, and said she approached Brand in the foyer afterwards to thank him.
Mrs Brand said she knew about his reputation before they met – "he liked women" – and learned while they were dating that he had been having sex with other people. She said: "I wasn't interested in having a relationship with him if he was sleeping with other people. I was invested, we both had told each other we loved each other, but it was clear it was difficult for him to be monogamous."
Relationship history
She said they stayed friends while Brand had a brief marriage to singer Katy Perry, and got back together as a couple in 2015, marrying in 2017. Asked if she was "aware of his promiscuity" during their time apart, she said: "I was very aware of it. I could read about it regularly in the papers, so I was aware of it and he also told me."
Turning to their relationship now, she said: "We have a very honest, frank, and clear relationship and marriage. It is one of the most important parts of our marriage, and our relationship has always been honest."
During his wife's evidence, Brand could be seen smiling and laughing at times, and appeared to mouth words towards her as she talked about his 2024 baptism.
Character statements
Earlier, statements from two of Brand's ex-girlfriends were read to the court. Classically trained ballet dancer Elia Alvarez Diaz dated Brand for three years between 1996 and 1999, including a period of 15 months when they lived together. She said the relationship ended because he cheated on her repeatedly, but also offered words supporting his character, describing him as "gentle, kind, warm and generous" and "exciting to be with".
A second ex-girlfriend, Amanda Alguero Alejos, said she met Brand in October 1999 when he was her teacher at the Callan School of English on Oxford Street, central London. She described him as "very loving, thoughtful and patient" and insisted they never had sex without consent.
Brand denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault. The trial continues.
