Russell Brand has arrived at Southwark Crown Court for the latest day of his trial on rape and sexual assault charges spanning 10 years of his showbiz career. The former comedian, aged 51, made no comment to the press as he was pictured outside the central London court today.
Brand, a father of three, was accompanied by his wife Laura Gallacher and members of his entourage. The defendant wore a knee-length black wool coat over a black suit with a long white scarf.
Charges and Allegations
He denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault against six women. Closing speeches are expected to finish today, after which the jury will go out to deliberate.
Brand is accused of trying to indecently assault an MTV worker by pulling her into a toilet in 2001, forcing himself on another MTV worker in a Soho bar toilet during a party in 2004, kissing and groping a radio worker in 2005 in a corridor, and raping a woman in a hotel room at the 1999 Labour Party conference.
Defence Submissions
Yesterday, Brand's barrister told the jury there is "no evidence he (Brand) is some sort of psychopath who rapes people and thinks it's normal."
The star's barrister, Ian Winter KC, also said yesterday there is a "curious feature" to the evidence from the complainants, adding: "They have all given evidence that Mr Brand's behaviour was normal either during and or after the incidents. That, we suggest, is something that simply cannot have occurred if he is guilty."
The trial continues.
