Prosecution outlines charges against Russell Brand as trial begins
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones has begun proceedings by outlining the charges against Russell Brand to the court.
She told jurors:
double quotation markRussell Brand, as you may know, and if you didn’t know before this trial, is a celebrity.
He was born on June 4 1975 making him now 51 years old.
He is here as he has been charged with a number of sexual offences including rape and sexual assault as you heard, those offences were committed against six different women between approximately 1999 and 2009.
Six different women, six women who did not know each other then and do not know each other now, who have never met each other, and who came forward independently of each other.
Their paths all crossed the defendant’s either through their employment, social events or through attending gigs where he was performing.”
Key events
Brand was ‘ruthless, calculated and manipulative,’ court hears
Karmy-Jones said the allegations “punctuate” 10 years of Brand’s life when “his career was beginning to flourish”.
“His public profile was taking off as he was progressing from doing gigs as a stand-up comedian at pubs and clubs to a TV presenter, an actor, and Hollywood movie star,” she told jurors.
She added that the circumstances of the alleged offences were “as wide and as varied as the defendant’s career”, and that the offending took place in a number of locations including a hotel room, workplaces, a toilet cubicle in a bar and at his home address.
Continuing her opening statement, Karmy-Jones said:
double quotation markSome of the women involved protested and said no, others had no opportunity to react to his advances but it mattered not to the defendant.
Regardless of who they were and what they said or did, Russell Brand was not deterred.
His desire, strong desire for some form of sexual contact was indiscriminate and voracious. 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.
He was ruthless, calculated and manipulative, and the prosecution say – a sexual predator.”
ShareProsecution outlines charges against Russell Brand as trial begins
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones has begun proceedings by outlining the charges against Russell Brand to the court.
She told jurors:
double quotation markRussell Brand, as you may know, and if you didn’t know before this trial, is a celebrity.
He was born on June 4 1975 making him now 51 years old.
He is here as he has been charged with a number of sexual offences including rape and sexual assault as you heard, those offences were committed against six different women between approximately 1999 and 2009.
Six different women, six women who did not know each other then and do not know each other now, who have never met each other, and who came forward independently of each other.
Their paths all crossed the defendant’s either through their employment, social events or through attending gigs where he was performing.”
Brand was driven to the court in a black Mercedes-Benz van, which parked directly outside the court building, where crowds of reporters and photographers had gathered for his trial.
Brand waited inside the vehicle for around a minute before stepping out, wearing a dark suit, a black-and-white striped shirt, a long white tie and sunglasses. He reached out for his wife’s hand before the pair walked together towards the court.
Updated at 05.23 EDT
Brand arrives at court
Emine Sinmaz
Russell Brand spoke to the media as he arrived at court this morning, saying he was feeling “concerned but hopeful”.
He said: “Today I feel blessed, I feel of course concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved.
“That’s my prayer.”
Photograph: Jack Taylor/Reuters Photograph: Jack Taylor/Reuters Photograph: Jack Taylor/ReutersShare
Updated at 05.25 EDT
Russell Brand rape and sexual assault trial begins
Russell Brand will be back in Southwark crown court today where his rape and sexual assault trial is expected to begin.
We should be hearing opening statements from the prosecution, which will set out an overview of the allegations against the 51-year-old comedian. He has been charged with three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault against six women, in allegations that date from 1999 to 2009. Brand has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
He has been pictured arriving at court this morning with his wife, Laura Gallacher.
Russell Brand arriving at Southwark crown court. Photograph: Ben Whitley/PA
A jury was sworn in yesterday, with a warning from the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, to ignore past reporting about Brand and allegations of sexual misconduct. You can read our report here:
The Press Association has been outside court this morning, where news crews have been setting up shop several hours before the trial begins. Here’s what the news agency reports:
double quotation markA crowd of members of the press were gathered outside Southwark crown court hours before Russell Brand’s trial was due to start.
Photographers, video journalists and news presenters could be seen in position at around 7.30am, while a line of reporters waited to get in to the court building.
Members of court security were also outside the building, along with a small group of police officers.
One police officer was heard telling members of the press to stay behind barriers which were in place directly outside the building.”
The trial is scheduled to begin at 10am, so follow along for live updates throughout the day as the case gets under way.
Updated at 05.09 EDT