Russell Brand allegedly had an “indiscriminate and voracious” appetite for sexual contact that led to a decade of criminal offending, a court has heard.
Brand took his place in the dock on Wednesday at London’s Southwark Crown Court, as the prosecution began making its case against the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star in a trial that will stretch into December.
Brand faces seven charges, encompassing three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault, and one of indecent assault. The charges pertain to allegations made by six women, spanning a decade from 1999 to 2009. Brand has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Riel Karmy-Jones KC, the barrister leading the argument for the prosecution, accused Brand of being “charming,” “ruthless,” and “calculating” in his efforts to satisfy his hunger for sexual activity. She said Brand “cared not” who the women were or how he left them feeling.
Watch on Deadline
“He would be nice when he wanted to be funny — undoubtedly charming, likeable even — when he wanted something in return. But then demanding, entitled, a flirt with a huge sexual appetite, childlike in his expectation that his every desire should be met,” Karmy-Jones said.
Karmy-Jones said the six women who had made the allegations against Brand did not know each other and had never met. She said they came forward after watching the 2023 Channel 4 documentary, Russell Brand: In Plain Sight, or reading allegations about his conduct.
Opening her case, Karmy-Jones walked through the allegations from the six women, who have a lifelong right to anonymity even though they are being named in court.
Complainant A alleged that she was raped by Brand after meeting him at the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth in 2009.
Complainant B, a former MTV employee, alleged that she was indecently assaulted by Brand in 2001 when he attempted to drag her into a toilet.
Complainant C claimed that she was orally raped by Brand in the toilet of a London bar in 2004 while they were both attending the birthday party of a TV producer.
Complainant D alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Brand at Capital Radio in 2004/5. She claims Brand “grabbed” her and kissed her “sloppily and aggressively.”
Complainant E alleged she was raped by Brand in 2009. She was a fan of the comedian and met him at the Hammersmith Apollo after he performed his Scandalous stand-up show. They had a consensual sexual encounter in his dressing room and, days later, she visited Brand at his London home. They again had consensual sex before Brand allegedly anally raped the woman.
Complainant F alleged that Brand demanded a massage during a work assignment for Channel 4 in 2009. She alleged that Brand “placed his head directly into her groin area” and she could feel his breath on her genitals, according to Karmy-Jones.
The court was told repeatedly that Brand declined to answer questions when interviewed by police. He instead relied on a prepared statement, in which he claimed that he did not recall meeting the women and did not remember their names. He said any sexual contact was consensual.
Brand walked into Southwark Crown Court in a black pinstripe suit, buttoned-down shirt, and white tie, knowing today would be the first full day of evidence after a jury was sworn in on Tuesday. He was again accompanied by his wife, Laura. Brand’s defense barrister is Ian Winter KC.
The jury members, comprising eight men and four women, took their place in Courtroom 3 of Southwark Crown Court for the first time. Judge Mr Justice Bennathan whittled down a list of 50 individuals to swear in the 12-strong jury.
The judge dismissed people who had watched Channel 4’s Russell Brand: In Plain Sight, or read the investigation in The Times of London or The Sunday Times. He also asked prospective jury members to leave if they had worked for MTV, Channel 4, or Capital Radio.
During a hearing on Monday, he said those individuals selected to serve on the jury “absolutely cannot carry out any research about Russell Brand,” including Googling the comedian or searching for him on social media. He warned that this could prejudice the trial and was a criminal offense.
Brand acted in Despicable Me and Get Him to the Greek. Before his work in Hollywood, he was a regular fixture on British television and radio, hosting Big Brother’s Big Mouth and a Radio 2 show.
The actor and comedian, who was married to Katy Perry, has reinvented himself as a Christian convert who evangelizes about free speech and free thinking in MAGA America.
Brand has continued posting on streaming and posting on his social media channels during the legal proceedings. He spoke of feeling God’s presence as he entered the court building. “Today, I feel blessed. I feel, of course, concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved,” he told Sky News on Wednesday. “That’s my prayer.”
