Defence to begin presenting its case in Russell Brand's trial
asserted
Defence → begin → trial
The defence is to begin presenting its case in Russell Brand’s trial at Southwark crown court, where he faces allegations of rape and sexual assault against six women.
asserted
he → begin → women
The prosecution’s case has drawn to a close after nearly two weeks of evidence, with the jury to hear from the defence today.
asserted
jury → draw → defence
In yesterday’s hearing, the jury was told by the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, that the indecent assault charge against Brand has been amended to attempted indecent assault.
asserted
charge → tell → assault
It relates to an allegation that Brand grabbed a female MTV worker by the arm and tried to drag her into a toilet.
asserted
Brand → relate → toilet
Bennathan told jurors he had reached the conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to support the charge of indecent assault.
asserted
he → tell → assault
The court also heard Brand was interviewed by police on four occasions – in November and December 2023, January 2024 and July 2025.
asserted
Brand → hear → November
Brand’s pre-prepared statement to police in November 2023 was read out in court by the prosecutor, Riel Karmy-Jones.
asserted
statement → prepare → prosecutor
In it, he said: “As I have repeatedly stated publicly and written about extensively, I led a very promiscuous life in the past, which I have spent years openly denouncing.
asserted
I → say → years
“I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.”
asserted
I → engage → activity
Brand, 51, has been charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault, in allegations dating between 1999 and 2009.
asserted
Brand → charge → 1999
He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
asserted
He → plead → charges
We will be bringing you live updates throughout the day as the trial continues.
asserted
trial → bring → day
Brand told the court that around the time of the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, which reported the allegations as part of an investigation with the Times and the Sunday Times, his baby son had to have open heart surgery at the Great Ormond Street hospital in London.
asserted
son → tell → London
He told jurors that the hospital refused to let him stay with his son “due to the materials published”.
asserted
him → tell → materials
Brand said his life has been “consumed by the impact of the allegations”.
asserted
life → say → allegations
Defence to begin presenting its case in Russell Brand's trial
The defence is to begin presenting its case in Russell Brand’s trial at Southwark crown court, where he faces allegations of rape and sexual assault against six women.
asserted
he → begin → women
The prosecution’s case has drawn to a close after nearly two weeks of evidence, with the jury to hear from the defence today.
asserted
jury → draw → defence
In yesterday’s hearing, the jury was told by the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, that the indecent assault charge against Brand has been amended to attempted indecent assault.
asserted
charge → tell → assault
It relates to an allegation that Brand grabbed a female MTV worker by the arm and tried to drag her into a toilet.
asserted
Brand → relate → toilet
Bennathan told jurors he had reached the conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to support the charge of indecent assault.
asserted
he → tell → assault
The court also heard Brand was interviewed by police on four occasions – in November and December 2023, January 2024 and July 2025.
asserted
Brand → hear → November
Brand’s pre-prepared statement to police in November 2023 was read out in court by the prosecutor, Riel Karmy-Jones.
asserted
statement → prepare → prosecutor
In it, he said: “As I have repeatedly stated publicly and written about extensively, I led a very promiscuous life in the past, which I have spent years openly denouncing.
asserted
I → say → years
“I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.”
asserted
I → engage → activity
Brand, 51, has been charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault, in allegations dating between 1999 and 2009.
asserted
Brand → charge → 1999
He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
asserted
He → plead → charges
We will be bringing you live updates throughout the day as the trial continues.
asserted
trial → bring → day
The Aporia
