Verdict at Southwark crown court
A jury at Southwark crown court found Russell Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault on Thursday. The verdict followed a four-week trial and eight hours and 30 minutes of deliberation by a jury consisting of four women and eight men. The trial followed a three-year Metropolitan police inquiry launched in September 2023, after allegations from five women in a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and the Times. Mr Justice Bennathan stated that the conviction means Brand will inevitably face a significant custodial term and ordered the 51-year-old to be remanded in custody. Brand, a father of three, appeared emotionless as dock officers led him to the cells. He had pleaded not guilty to three charges of rape, three of sexual assault, and one of attempted indecent assault against six women. The allegations covered a period of 10 years, beginning in 1999. Brand, who had arrived at court in a grey three-piece suit, looked at his wife, Laura, and told her, "Laura, I love you," shortly before the jury delivered the verdicts that found him guilty of four offences. He was cleared of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Details of the convictions
The conviction for rape stems from the anal rape of a young fan at Brand’s London townhouse in early 2009 after a Hammersmith Apollo gig, and the victim told the court she begged him to stop but Brand continued. Brand also received convictions for sexually assaulting a woman at a birthday party in Soho in 2004 and a worker at Choice FM during 2004 or 2005. In the Choice FM case, the woman told the court that Brand laughed after squeezing her breasts and kissing her sloppily, while a Channel 4 worker testified that Brand placed his head in her lap during a 2009 filming project. Regarding the MTV worker, the jury found Brand guilty of grabbing her breasts at a birthday party in 2004 but cleared him of orally raping her.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC said the victims described a pattern where Brand’s personality changed from charming to frightening and nasty, and she noted his eyes changed and he snapped. During the trial, he was described as a ruthless, calculated, and manipulative sexual predator who treated women as a "disposable commodity" and a "means to an end" to satisfy his sexual appetite. Ian Winter KC, Brand’s barrister, argued that the accusers did not resist, scream, or try to leave during the encounters. He also denied that Brand was a "psychopath who rapes people and thinks it’s normal." The jury cleared Brand of a rape charge involving a woman at a 1999 Labour party conference in Bournemouth and an attempted indecent assault of an MTV worker in 2001.
Ongoing police investigation
The Metropolitan police confirmed their investigation into Brand continues, as detectives submit files to the Crown Prosecution Service regarding two further rape allegations. A police spokesperson said the suspect was previously interviewed under caution in connection with these allegations. Det Supt Andy Furphy praised the "extraordinary courage, resilience and determination" of the victims, as he stated that Brand used his influence and status to prey on women. He said he hoped the conviction sends a message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be. Brand’s trial heard that the victims felt haunted by their encounters and came forward because they realized they were not alone. The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, scheduled the sentencing for Monday.
