Comedian Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault
A London jury convicted comedian and actor Russell Brand, 51, of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, after more than eight hours of deliberation at Southwark Crown Court. He was acquitted of two rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault. The charges involved six women and incidents between 1999 and 2009. Judge Joel Bennathan revoked his bail, ordered him remanded in custody and set sentencing for Monday, 9 Nov. Brand has denied the allegations, saying the encounters were consensual.
Key facts
- The judge warned Brand would receive a significant custodial sentence.
- The Metropolitan Police said the verdict reflected the courage of the women who came forward.
- Court testimony came from six complainants who remain anonymous.
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Why it matters
The verdict concludes a four-week trial over allegations spanning a decade of Brand's rise to fame.
What changed
First published from The Times of India, SVT Nyheter, RTÉ News, The Straits Times and The Guardian