Russell Brand arrives at a London court for his trial on rape and sexual assault charges
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
- Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
*Your next Free Press subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
LONDON (AP) — Comedian Russell Brand arrived at a London court Monday for the opening of his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault.
Brand was flanked by security guards and accompanied by his wife, Laura Gallacher, as he arrived at Southwark Crown Court for the first day of a trial that is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks.
Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The offenses relate to six women and are alleged to have taken place between 1999 and 2009.
He has remained free on bail ahead of his trial.
Prosecutors have said at previous hearings that Brand is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room at a Labour Party conference, grabbing a TV worker’s breasts and forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, and kissing and groping a radio station worker.
Known for risque stand-up routines and battles with drugs and alcohol, Brand was a major star of the early 2000s, with TV hosting jobs, his own BBC radio show and roles in films including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek.”
In recent years he has dropped out of mainstream media, moved to Florida and built a large following online with videos mixing wellness, conspiracy theories and discussions of his religious devotion.
The Associated Press doesn’t name victims of alleged sexual violence, and British law protects their identities from the media for life.