Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and three charges of sexual assault, while being cleared of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. During the trial, jurors were kept from hearing details about his relationship with Katy Perry and his history of drink and drug addiction.
Prosecution case edited before trial
Prosecutors had wanted to mention the singer Katy Perry when opening the case against Brand over allegations of rape and sexual assault. However, Perry was removed from lead prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC's speech after submissions made by the accused's legal team.
Prosecutors also agreed not to bring up Brand's past religious interests, prior to his recent conversion to Christianity. The Crown consented to remove mention of Brand's baptism by TV presenter Bear Grylls in the River Thames in Henley in 2024.
Marriage and religious conversion
Brand and Perry were married in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Rajasthan, India, in 2010, at a venue close to a tiger sanctuary. In the past two years, Brand has converted to Christianity, which now forms the centrepiece of his podcast and online content. At times during the trial he was seen praying in the dock.
In legal submissions before the trial began, Ms Karmy-Jones said: "The prosecution recognise that matters post 2009 involving his relationship with Katy Perry may be sensitive, as may his previous faiths, and we are content to remove these."
Drug and alcohol evidence excluded
When Brand gave evidence, he mentioned his marriage to Perry. They started dating after meeting on the set of the film Get Him To The Greek in 2009, but by the end of 2011 their marriage was over. Perry was not asked for a witness statement during the investigation into Brand.
In pre-trial arguments that can be published now the case is over, it was revealed that details of Brand's drug use and alcoholism would not feature in the case. The prosecution wanted to rely on Brand's "dependency" on drink and drugs, but defence barrister Ian Winter KC objected. He told the judge: "None of the complainants assert that Mr Brand was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their encounters with him."
Witness evidence and restrictions
Brand's former assistant Helen Berger gave evidence of Brand's "insane sexual appetite", but her statement was edited to omit a reference to his treatment at a sex addiction clinic. Brand's team failed to block the jury from hearing evidence from Ms Berger of him getting "depressed" after sex, his penchant for sex in toilets and dressing rooms, and evidence that he would "switch off the charm" when a woman mentioned she was in a relationship.
Brand's former friend Mark Pinheiro was prevented from discussing the comedian's substance abuse. The jury returned guilty verdicts on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, with not guilty verdicts on two further counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
