Russell Brand Trial Enters Third Week as Former Assistant's Statement Is Read to Jury

Russell Brand's trial on rape and sexual assault charges has entered its third week at Southwark Crown Court in London. A witness statement from his former personal assistant, who worked for him in the 2000s, was read to the jury, Deadline reported.

Brand denies all charges and has pleaded not guilty. He faces three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The charges are based on allegations by six women. Jury selection took place on 12 October, the first day of the trial, according to Reuters. The prosecution has alleged that Brand was a "sexual predator", the BBC reported on 14 October. The BBC also reported that the six complainants have never met each other.

The assistant told the court that she was once told not to take Brand's mother or girlfriend to his dressing room, because he was having sex and did not want them to see. She described his sexual appetite as insane. She said he liked walking around in his underwear with no shirt on. She also said he never seemed happy after sex, and was more depressed than anything. She told the court she never saw him break the law, and that no one told her about any such conduct. She left the job because she was sick of him and feeling burnt out.

Other evidence has also been heard. A statement from a Channel 4 colleague said two of Brand's associates ordered a complainant to give him a massage several times, or he would not record a radio advert. The statement said the associates watched and laughed during the alleged assault. Text messages from an accuser, who said she was assaulted at a radio station, said she did not report Brand at the time. She wrote that he was a superstar and she thought nothing would happen to him.

The assistant's statement was described as one of the final pieces of evidence in the prosecution's case. Brand's defence is expected to begin the next day, and Brand is expected to give evidence himself. He arrived at court with his wife, Laura Gallacher, on the day the statement was read.

Every allegation in the case is yet to be tested by the defence, and Brand has denied all of them. The jury will decide whether the prosecution has proved each charge.