British actor and comedian Russell Brand appeared in a London court on October 12 for the start of his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault.
The 51-year-old arrived at Southwark Crown Court accompanied by his wife, Laura Gallacher, and security personnel. His appearance came ahead of proceedings expected to last up to 10 weeks.
Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, relating to alleged incidents said to have occurred between 1999 and 2009. Six women are involved in the case.
According to the allegations previously brought against him, the alleged incidents include the rape of a woman in a hotel room and claims of sexual assaults involving female media workers.
Brand has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty. He has maintained that he has never engaged in sexual activity without the other person’s consent.
The opening hearing focused on jury selection, with the court expected to examine the claims and evidence presented by both sides throughout the trial.
Brand rose to prominence in Britain during the 2000s as a television presenter and comedian before securing roles in Hollywood films, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. He was married to singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012.
In recent years, Brand has focused on online videos and content covering topics related to wellness, religion and politics.
