Russell Brand's wife Laura Gallacher was escorted out of Southwark Crown Court on Thursday morning (October 29), shortly after she took to the stand to give evidence during her husband's ongoing rape trial.
The comedian, aged 51, faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault relating to six different women between 1999 and 2009. He denies all charges.
Gallacher, who married Brand in 2017, took to the stand on Thursday, though the judge had to step in and halt the proceedings around halfway through questioning from the defence.
Judge Intervenes During Questioning
Brand's barrister, Ian Winter KC, asked Gallacher: "Are you aware of the allegations against him?" To which she responded that she was.
Gallacher, 39, told the court she had been present at her husband's side for the majority of the trial and had been taking notes throughout proceedings.
Winter then asked: "What is your view as to the truth of the allegations?"
Judge Mr Justice Bennathan swiftly interjected: "No, no, no," pointing out that she was not appearing as an expert witness.
Rephrasing his question, Winter asked: "What is your view as to his character?".
Lead prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC cut in, stating: "No... that is wholly unacceptable."
Gallacher's Testimony and Removal
Then, Gallacher and the jury were directed to leave the courtroom, with security guard Joe McCann accompanying Brand's wife, reports the Express. This came after Gallacher's testimony in court that her husband is "caring, kind and a wonderful father to our children".
"He is an amazingly attentive husband. He has got an eye for detail I've never known before," she added. "The way he treats me is to really know me, I feel very seen by him in every way. I love him very much."
Brand and Gallacher first met at the Edinburgh festival in 2006, enjoying a brief romance before going their separate ways in 2007. They rekindled their relationship in 2015 and have since welcomed three children together.
Gallacher acknowledged she was aware that Brand "liked women" prior to their meeting, and learnt he had been intimate with others when they first began dating.
"I wasn't interested in having a relationship with him if he was sleeping with other people," she said. "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."
Reflecting on their current relationship, Gallacher 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."
Brand's Evidence and Trial Progress
At the end of Mrs Brand's evidence, jurors were sent away by the judge until Friday morning.
In evidence on Wednesday, Brand insisted consent is "non-negotiable" and told jurors it is "more important than sex itself".
He told the court that it has been "deeply traumatic" for him since allegations have been made against him, telling the court that he has focused on recalling events "at the expense of my marriage, my children and my health".
Earlier this week, Brand was issued a not guilty verdict after a charge was changed due to "insufficient evidence". An indecent assault charge against him was changed to attempted indecent assault at the halfway stage of his trial. The trial continues.
