LONDON: Defence lawyers in Russell Brand’s criminal trial at Southwark Crown Court urged the jury to consider that his accusers did not resist or attempt to leave the alleged encounters.
The comedian and presenter faces multiple charges, including three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault, involving six anonymous complainants between 1999 and 2009. Brand denies all allegations.
During closing arguments on Monday, defence counsel Ian Winter argued that media coverage from a 2023 documentary prompted the complainants to come forward.
Winter told jurors that living a promiscuous life is lawful and contended that Brand believed the encounters were consensual.
Winter told the court that Brand’s behaviour during and after the events showed he believed the women consented, arguing there was no evidence the defendant acted without regard for consent.
Read: Russell Brand Trial Hears Wife’s Account of Past Infidelity
Lead prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones presented the Crown’s closing statements on Friday, describing the defence narrative as misleading and emphasising that the complainants did not know each other prior to coming forward.
Read: Russell Brand Charged with Rape and Sexual Offences in London
The jury of eight men and four women must reach a unanimous verdict on all seven charges. Defence lawyers delivered closing arguments in Russell Brand’s trial at Southwark Crown Court, urging jurors to reject allegations of non-consensual acts.
(With input from Variety and Sky News)
