Brand faces seven charges involving six women over alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009. Reports by Reuters, the Associated Press and British media outlets say the jury was sent to deliberate on November 3, following several weeks of evidence and closing arguments from both sides. The 12-member jury, comprising eight men and four women, was instructed to reach a unanimous decision on each of the seven charges.
The jury in the sexual offences trial of British comedian and actor Russell Brand has begun considering its verdict at Southwark Crown Court in London. He has denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty. Judge Joel Bennathan completed his summing-up of the case before sending the jurors out to consider the evidence.
However, they deliberated for only about an hour on Tuesday before being sent home for the night. They were scheduled to return to court on Wednesday morning to continue their discussions.
The six women, who have said they did not know one another, came forward to police following a 2023 Channel 4 documentary and newspaper investigations that reported separate allegations of sexual misconduct against the comedian.
The allegations relate to incidents said to have taken place at different locations, including a hotel room, the London offices of MTV, a recording studio, a radio station, a Soho bar and Brand’s home. Lead prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told the court that the accounts of the six complainants showed similarities and that their decision to approach the police followed the public attention generated by the documentary. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Brand used his growing celebrity and influence to exploit women. The prosecution also urged jurors to consider the alleged incidents individually while assessing the evidence presented by each woman.
The case marks a significant legal development for the comedian, who was once a prominent figure in British television and went on to appear in several Hollywood films. For now, the jury’s task is to assess the evidence and decide whether the prosecution has proved the charges. No verdict had been reached when the jurors adjourned on Tuesday, leaving the proceedings to continue into Wednesday.