Russell Brand rape and sexual assault trial begins with jury selection

Russell Brand’s trial on charges of rape and sexual assault has begun at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Proceedings opened on Monday, October 12, with the selection of jurors who will decide whether the 51-year-old comedian and actor is guilty or not guilty.

Brand faces seven charges involving six women and has pleaded not guilty to every count.

Brand arrives with wife

Journalists began queuing outside the court early in the morning as media organisations competed for limited seats inside Court 3.

Photographers gathered outside the building before Brand arrived accompanied by his wife, Laura Gallacher, and security personnel.

Brand sat in the dock during the hearing while potential jurors were questioned and selected. Cameras and recording equipment are not permitted inside English courtrooms.

Judge warns jurors against research

Judge Joel Bennathan told potential jurors that Brand was a well-known public figure and that some of them were likely to have heard of him.

People who said they had watched a previous television documentary about Brand or read a lengthy newspaper investigation concerning allegations against him were excluded from the jury-selection process.

The judge reminded those selected that the claims reported by the media were allegations that Brand firmly denies.

Jurors were also instructed not to conduct independent research about Brand or the case, including searching for information online or reading earlier coverage.

Seven criminal charges

Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.

The charges relate to six women and alleged incidents said to have taken place between 1999 and 2009.

Brand has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges and denies the allegations against him.

He remains on bail while the trial continues.

Trial expected to last several weeks

The jury is expected to be formally sworn in on Tuesday, with prosecutors due to begin presenting their case later in the week.

The proceedings are expected to continue for several weeks, during which the jury will hear evidence from the prosecution, witnesses and Brand’s defence team.

Brand rose to prominence as a comedian and television and radio presenter during the early 2000s.

He later appeared in Hollywood films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. In recent years, he has concentrated on online programmes discussing religion, politics and free speech.

The trial continues. Brand is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.