Russell Brand denies rape charges as trial testimony begins
Former comedian Russell Brand, 51, took the stand at Southwark Crown Court in London on 28 Oct 2026 and denied all charges against him. He faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault, all pleaded not guilty. Six women allege offences between 1999 and 2009, and prosecutors say the trial has run for two weeks. Brand said the allegations have devastated his life and that friends had abandoned him. The maximum sentence for rape in Britain is life in prison.
Key facts
- Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones described Brand to jurors as ruthless, calculating, manipulative and a sexual predator.
- Brand said Great Ormond Street Hospital barred him from staying with his baby son during open heart surgery.
- One woman alleges Brand raped her in a hotel room after they met at a Labour Party conference in 1999.
- Brand said he blames the media for his downfall after 2023 reporting by Channel 4 Dispatches and The Times.
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Why it matters
The jury's verdict will decide whether seven sexual offence charges against a well-known public figure result in convictions.
What changed
First published from ABC News (US), Bangkok Post, ABC News (Australia), RTÉ News and CBS News