Russell Brand’s trial on rape and sexual assault charges opened Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London, with jury selection taking up the first day.
Brand, 51, arrived in a grey suit and sunglasses, holding the hand of his wife, Laura. He sat in the dock, staring ahead or closing his eyes, as the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, addressed prospective jurors. Brand has pleaded not guilty to every charge.
The case combines seven counts: three of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. They involve six women, and the alleged offences span 1999 to 2009. Prosecutors brought the first charges, involving four women, in April 2025. Two further charges, concerning two more women, followed that December. Brand has remained on bail.
Bennathan removed from the jury pool anyone who had watched a documentary about Brand broadcast about three years ago or read a lengthy newspaper investigation published at the same time. Police opened their inquiry in September 2023 after those reports. The judge warned jurors against researching the defendant. He said the trial is expected to run about six weeks, though other reports suggest it could stretch to 10. Jurors will be sworn in Tuesday, and prosecutors are expected to open their case later in the week.
Brand has maintained his innocence since the allegations surfaced. After the first charges, he posted a video saying he had “never engaged in nonconsensual activity,” and added that he looked forward to defending himself in court. He has previously described his past conduct as foolish, referring to drug and sex addiction, while denying that he is a rapist.
The trial was first scheduled for June and then postponed to October to hear all seven charges together. The Crown Prosecution Service said it concluded the evidence justified charges after reviewing the police investigation.
Brand rose to fame as a British television presenter and comedian before film roles in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek.” He was once married to the singer Katy Perry.
