Laura Gallacher, the wife of Russell Brand, had to be supported by a security guard as she left Southwark Crown Court after the comedian was convicted of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women. The 39-year-old children's author and illustrator appeared on the verge of collapse as she left Court Three following the jury's verdicts on Thursday afternoon.
Earlier, she had looked tearful and as though she was struggling to breathe while a female friend held her hand as they waited for the verdicts to be delivered. After hearing that her husband was being remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on Monday, Ms Gallacher turned her head and body towards a wall and held her hand over her mouth in shock.
Verdict delivered after eight and a half hours
The verdicts came after eight hours and 30 minutes of deliberations. Brand was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Monday. Throughout the almost month-long trial, which included testimony from six complainants, Ms Gallacher sat directly to Brand's right-hand side inside court so the pair could constantly see each other through the dock's door, which was permanently left open until the verdict hearing.
Ms Gallacher, whose father is golf legend Bernard Gallacher and whose older sister is broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher, was a constant support to Brand both inside and outside the courtroom. At times she waited next to the door of the dock to greet her husband as he walked out, smiling widely towards him and appearing to offer words of encouragement after they listened to some of the most bruising evidence.
Support inside and outside the courtroom
Unlike her husband, who showed almost no emotion inside court, Ms Gallacher showed far more expression. At times she appeared frustrated while straining to hear the evidence, while at other points she smiled while listening, including when looking at other members of their entourage, such as his manager and producer Jake Smith, security guard Joe McCann, personal assistant Sara Watson and podcaster pal David Fields.
On at least one occasion, Brand and Ms Gallacher were seen linking arms while walking in a corridor on the third floor of the court building. Brand was also seen putting a protective arm around his wife while waiting outside the courtroom doors, asking her: "You alright, darling?".
The couple first got together in 2006 before splitting up in 2007, after which Brand wed US pop star Katy Perry. They got back together in 2015 and married in a ceremony near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, in 2017. They now have three children together, all of primary school age, including their eldest child who the court heard celebrated their tenth birthday on Wednesday.
Journeys to court and family background
Speaking on the couple's podcast, Stay Free, during the trial, Ms Gallacher gave an insight into their chauffeur-driven journeys to court in a black Mercedes people carrier each day, including on the approach road Battle Bridge Lane. She also spoke about how the couple and their entourage found solace in reading psalms together during the journeys.
She said: "As soon as I see the name of the street I get nervous, I think this is it now. On Battlebridge Road you don your armour, that's what I feel. That when i think you need to get into your shape get into your strength."
Ms Gallacher is 13 years her husband's junior, but he has previously told how he calls her "100 per cent the boss". He will need her to lead him and their family now more than ever.
