Russell Brand arrives at London court as rape and sexual assault trial starts
Russell Brand arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London on 12 October for the start of his criminal trial, according to Variety.
The British comedian and actor faces seven criminal charges. They comprise three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.
The charges were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, the public body that decides whether to prosecute cases in England and Wales, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Brand has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The case involves six women in total. Prosecutors say charges announced in April relate to four women and alleged incidents between 1999 and 2005. Further charges authorised in December relate to two additional women and alleged incidents in 2009, the CPS said in a statement published on 23 December 2025.
The trial will be decided by 12 jurors. It could last up to two months. Brand remains on bail throughout the proceedings.
The first day was expected to deal with jury selection. Opening arguments from the prosecution and the defence were tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.
The trial date had been set earlier this year. In March, Judge Joel Bennathan said the case would start in October, Reuters reported. Brand had entered not guilty pleas at a hearing in London on 30 May 2025.
Brand arrived at the same court last week for a pre-trial hearing ahead of the trial, Deadline reported. He was a regular on British television in the 2000s before moving into film and online presenting.
