Russell Brand Denies Non-Consensual Sex in Court as Indecent Assault Charge Dropped
Russell Brand, currently on trial at Southwark Crown Court, has maintained his innocence regarding multiple charges of rape and sexual assault. During court proceedings, jurors were presented with police interview transcripts in which Brand stated he had been promiscuous but never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity. Additionally, Mr Justice Bennathan dismissed a charge of indecent assault due to insufficient evidence, though Brand now faces an amended indictment for attempted indecent assault.
Key points
- Russell Brand is on trial facing three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault.
- Brand told police in interviews that he never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.
- Mr Justice Bennathan dismissed a charge of indecent assault citing insufficient evidence.
- The prosecution is expected to conclude its case on Wednesday morning.
What happened
Russell Brand appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London to face trial on multiple sexual offence charges. During the proceedings, the court heard details from four police interviews conducted between 2023 and 2025. In these interviews, Brand stated that while he had led a very promiscuous life, he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.
Brand characterized the allegations against him as originating from a defamatory documentary and claimed that subsequent media and police actions encouraged the invention or reimagining of encounters.
Legal developments
Mr Justice Bennathan formally asked the jury to find Brand not guilty of a charge of indecent assault, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to support the claim. This specific charge involved an allegation from 2001 regarding an incident at MTV.
Following the dismissal of that charge, the court received an amended indictment that includes a charge of attempted indecent assault. Brand has entered a plea of not guilty to this charge and continues to deny all other allegations, including three counts of rape and three charges of sexual assault.
Why it matters
The court has dismissed one charge of indecent assault against Russell Brand due to insufficient evidence, while the trial continues for remaining counts.
What we know
- Russell Brand is on trial at Southwark Crown Court facing three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault.
- Mr Justice Bennathan ruled there was insufficient evidence to support a charge of indecent assault against Russell Brand.
- Russell Brand told police in interviews that he never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.
- The prosecution is expected to conclude its case on Wednesday morning.
What remains unclear
- The outcome of the remaining charges of rape, sexual assault, and attempted indecent assault remains to be determined by the jury.
How the story developed
Court hears police interview transcripts
Jurors at Southwark Crown Court heard that Russell Brand told police he never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.
Original source
