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Judge Mr Justice Bennathan began jury selection for Russell Brand’s rape and sexual assault trial, which involves accusations spanning 1999 to 2009 from six women. The judge dismissed six potential jurors who admitted to remembering media coverage of the allegations from 2023. Brand, wearing sunglasses and a grey suit, appeared in court on Monday morning without speaking to press. The trial is expected to last about six weeks with opening statements set for Wednesday.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Russell Brand, a 51-year-old comedian and actor turned podcaster, appeared in Southwark Crown Court on Monday for the start of his trial involving charges of rape and sexual assault against six women. The allegations span from 1999 to 2009 and include incidents such as raping a woman at a hotel room during the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, grabbing a TV worker's breasts, forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, kissing and groping another radio station worker. Brand denies all charges and is accused of three counts of rape, three sexual assaults, and one indecent assault. He was accompanied by his wife, Laura Gallacher, at the pre-trial hearing and jury selection process. The trial could last up to ten weeks, with the judge dismissing six potential jurors who admitted having prior knowledge about the case from media coverage.
Written for “Russell Brand Trial” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
The 51-year-old is accused of groping women and forcing them into sexual acts, in allegations spanning 10 years from 1999 to 2009.
asserted
old → accuse → 2009
With Brand in the dock, Mr Justice Bennathan started the process of selecting jurors who will sit on the case.
asserted
who → start → case
A group of 50 prospective jurors were first asked if they had seen a Channel 4 documentary or read a newspaper article concerning allegations about Brand in 2023.
asserted
they → ask → 2023
“We are about to start the trial of one Mr Russell Brand,” said the judge.
asserted
judge → start → Brand
“Many of you will have heard of him.
asserted
Many → hear → him
“They were allegations he firmly denied.
asserted
he → deny → ?
“The jury in this trial will hear something about that programme and the allegations in the programme and the newspaper article.
asserted
jury → hear → programme
“But we, the lawyers and the judge, all agree if any of you remember as you stand here today watching the Channel 4 documentary or remember reading the article in the Times about three years ago, please put a hand up now.”
asserted
you → agree → hand
The judge then dismissed six members of the jury panel who identified that they remembered seeing the media coverage.
asserted
they → dismiss → coverage
It is expected that the jury selection process will continue on Tuesday, ahead of the prosecution opening its case against Brand on Wednesday morning.
asserted
prosecution → expect → morning
The jurors have also been told that the trial is expected to last around six weeks.
asserted
trial → tell → ?
Brand arrived for court in a black Mercedes on Monday morning, waiting for a few minutes to leave the vehicle before taking Ms Gallacher by the hand.
asserted
Brand → arrive → hand
He said nothing to members of the press as he walked into the courthouse, and did not respond to shouted questions.
Read More
asserted
he → say → More
Wearing a grey suit, a white unbuttoned shirt with a brown neckerchief underneath, brown boots and sunglasses, Brand remained seated and displayed little emotion as the jury selectin process began.
asserted
process → wear → emotion
Brand denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assaults, and one allegation of indecent assault, made by six women.
asserted
Brand → deny → women
Previous hearings have heard Brand is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, grabbing a TV worker’s breasts and forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, and kissing and groping a radio station worker.
asserted
Brand → hear → worker
Essex-born Brand started out as a stand-up comedian and his showbiz career took off when he was picked to front Big Brother spin-off shows by Channel 4.
asserted
he → bear → Channel
He became one of Britain’s best-known comedians in the 2000s and won presenting roles including the 2007 Brit Awards, Comic Relief and the MTV Music Video Awards, and hosted his own show on BBC Radio 2.
asserted
He → become → Radio
He made the move into Hollywood films with roles including an Arthur remake, comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall and 2012 musical comedy Rock Of Ages.
asserted
He → make → Ages
In recent years, he has pivoted to podcasting and online influencing, and now lives in Florida in the United States.
asserted
he → pivot → States
Brand, who pleaded not guilty to the charges during pre-trial hearings, is on bail.
asserted
who → plead → bail
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