Russell Brand has arrived at Southwark Crown Court ahead of the opening of his trial. The 51-year-old comedian faces seven charges related to six different women, including three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one allegation of indecent assault between 1999 and 2009.
Arrival at court with security
Brand and his wife Laura Gallacher entered the court, near London Bridge train station, this morning amid tight security, including their own private guard. TV crews and journalists from around the world were seen filming the film star turned podcaster's arrival. Brand arrived wearing sunglasses.
Jury selection and trial details
A jury of 12 men and women will decide the case after being chosen from a group of 50 prospective jurors earlier this week. Their selection came after a process that included them being asked a number of questions, including if they had seen a Channel 4 documentary or read a newspaper article concerning allegations about Brand in 2023.
Brand's trial is expected to last up to ten weeks, with the prosecution's case set to take around four weeks. It will be overseen by High Court judge Mr Justice Joel Bennathan, with Riel Karmy-Jones KC prosecuting the case and Ian Winter KC defending Brand.
Complainants and career background
None of the complainants can be named for legal reasons. They are all expected to give evidence in person inside court from behind a screen.
Brand began his career as a stand-up comedian, with his career taking off when he was picked to front spin-off Big Brother shows on Channel 4. In the 2000s, he became one of the biggest names in British comedy, presenting the 2007 Brit Awards, Comic Relief, and the MTV Video Music Awards. He also hosted his own show on BBC Radio 2.
He later made the transition into Hollywood films, with roles including an Arthur remake, Get Him To The Greek and 2012 musical comedy Rock Of Ages.
