The Trial of Russell Brand

On the 14th day of the trial of Russell Brand, the wife of the comedian and christian influencer, Laura Brand, gave evidence. She told the court it was “clear it was hard for him to be monogamous” when the pair began dating in 2006, causing them to break up in 2007. After getting back together and marrying in 2017, she said Brand was “caring, kind” and “a wonderful father to our children.”

In cross-examination, the prosecution highlighted Laura Brand did not know the comedian during the time period relating to 5 of the counts.

Two former girlfriends of Russell Brand also provided statements as character witnesses.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

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On episode 13 of the Trial of Russell Brand podcast, Russell Brand gave evidence for the first time.

Brand’s defence went through the details of each alleged offence, which relate to six women. The comedian told the court two of the allegations of rape were actually consensual sex. He said a third alleged rape did not happen. Consent, Brand insisted, was “fundamental… more important than sex itself”.

During cross-examination, the prosecution repeatedly asked why Brand hadn’t mentioned some of the details he gave in court during his earlier police interviews.

Brand said “there’s been escalating recollection”. He denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the twelfth day of the trial of Russell Brand, the jury were directed to find the defendant not guilty on one count of indecent assault. The judge, Justice Bennathan, told the jury there was insufficient evidence for count 2. This is where Brand was alleged to have grabbed the arm of a woman in the offices of MTV and attempted to drag her into a toilet.

However, a new count of “attempted indecent assault” was introduced in relation to the same incident.

The court also heard the prosecution read the prepared statements Russell Brand gave police when he was initially interviewed. In those statements the former comedian suggested complainants had “invented” allegations or “reimagined” consensual sexual encounters, after what he called “fictitious and defamatory” reporting in the press.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eleventh day of the trial of Russell Brand, a former assistant of the comedian remembered him having an “insane sexual appetite”. While Helen Berger didn’t remember witnessing Brand doing anything illegal, in her statement she said that she had worked with lots of celebrities around whom bad behaviour was normalised. “This was on another level.”

The court also heard that the sister of Woman 3 was told Russell Brand’s eyes had become completely blank, like he was “possessed”, when he allegedly assaulted Woman 3 at a birthday party in 2004.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the tenth day of the trial of Russell Brand, it was a non-sitting day for the jury. So, instead – you asked, we answered. We took the time to answer some of the many questions we’ve received. Will Russell Brand be cross-examined? And who is the Russell Brand look-alike who’s been in court every day?

We’re also joined by court artist Priscilla Coleman, whose beautiful sketches have been making the rounds on social media. She tells us how she captures the scene through notes like “blonde potato”.

The prosecution case will resume on Monday.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day (when the jury is), and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

Images and video: Getty, PA Media, MB Media

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.

On the ninth day of the trial of Russell Brand, more than 20 witnesses gave evidence relating to Woman 5. This is the complainant who alleges she was raped in Brand’s home in 2009. Two of the witnesses told the court Woman 5 did not tell police at the time because she didn’t think she would be believed.

The defence suggested Woman 5 had had consensual sex with Russell Brand and later regretted it.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eighth day of the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 5 finished her testimony and was then cross-examined by the defence. Woman 5 said she felt “guilt and shame” but did not consent to a specific sexual act with Brand.

The defence argued that she did consent and said Woman 5 had “idolised” Brand at the time.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify.

Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.

On the seventh day in the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 5 told police she went willingly to Brand’s house, but during that visit something she didn’t consent to happened, and he allegedly raped her.

Woman 4 and Woman 6 both allege Brand sexually assaulted them in their workplaces.

The defence suggested Woman 4 did not have a clear memory of the incident, and Woman 6 gave an inconsistent account about her clothing to a journalist.

The defence will begin cross examination of Woman 5 tomorrow.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.

On the sixth day of the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 3 took to the witness box. She alleges Brand orally raped her after he pulled her into a toilet in 2004.

The defence suggested Brand invited her into the toilet where they had a “kiss and cuddle”.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the fifth day of the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 2 took the stand. She described how Brand allegedly tried to pull her into a male toilet in 2001, going from a “friendly” person to a “wild-eyed maniac.”

The defence suggested it could have been an invitation for a consensual encounter.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.