Will Russell Brand give evidence at his rape trial? Defence to begin case next week

Will Russell Brand give evidence at his rape trial? Defence to begin case next week

Six victims have given evidence in court with Russell Brand’s defence set to commence next week
Russell Brand’s trial is expected to last ten weeks
WEST END FINAL

Six women have alleged they were either raped or sexually assaulted by Russell Brand, giving accounts in court over the nine days since the former comedian’s trial began.

The jury has heard the women describe alleged incidents with Brand in toilets, hotel rooms, and his bedroom.

The 51-year-old denies all seven criminal charges: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault.

Russell Brand (right) arrives at Southwark Crown Court, London, where he faces three charges of rape, indecent assault, and three counts of sexual assault, relating to six women. Picture date: Thursday October 22, 2026.
Russell Brand (right) arrives at Southwark Crown Court, London, on Thursday October 22, 2026.

Opening the trial on October 14, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC outlined the allegations against Brand - which span the course of a decade between 1999 and 2009.

Over the next few days, the court was presented with evidence from six of Brand’s alleged victims.

The court heard that he raped a woman in a hotel room after the Labour Party conference. The woman told the court how he ‘pranced’ around the room like the TV character Basil Fawlty, insisting “it’s fun, it’s normal” as he raped her.

Brand’s barrister suggested in the cross-examination that the woman had “fallen under his spell” and consented to the encounter.

Another woman alleged that Brand tried to drag her into a toilet at MTV’s central London offices where she worked in 2002.

She described Brand as a “wild-eyed maniac” who grabbed her by the arm and tried to pull her into the toilet.

Brand’s lawyer said Brand had been seeking a consensual sexual encounter and quit when the woman said no.

Russell Brand denies all charges (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
Russell Brand ‘s team will present their defence in the coming weeks
Russell Brand has denied all seven charges against him

Brand is also accused of groping a woman during a birthday party at the Nordic Bar in Soho, where he allegedly dragged a woman into a toilet and raped her.

The woman claimed Brand “lunged” at her and grabbed hold of her breasts within minutes of meeting him.

In response to this, Brand’s barrister suggested the woman had been excited to meet the TV star and had willingly entered the toilet.

He also suggested that the encounter was cut short because of the “disgusting” state of the toilets.

Court artist sketch of Russell Brand in court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)
Court artist sketch of Russell Brand in court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

A radio worker at Choice FM also alleged that she had been subject to “sloppy” kisses by Brand in 2005.

The woman said she came forward after viewing a Dispatches documentary in 2023, which detailed separate sexual misconduct claims against Brand.

A fifth victim alleged that Brand raped her when she was 21 years old after a comedy show in 2009.

Later, she went to his Hampstead townhouse, where he allegedly forced her to shower and brush her teeth. After having sex with him, the woman alleged Brand raped her by having unwanted anal sex.

The final allegation is that Brand put his head into a woman’s lap after she had been forced to give him a massage. She claimed he got so close that she could feel his breath on her intimate parts.

Court artist sketch of Russell Brand in court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)
Russell Brand has sat rigidly in the dock as his trial unfolds
Russell Brand listened to evidence at Southwark Crown Court (Sketch/Elizabeth Cook/PA)
Russell Brand listened to evidence at Southwark Crown Court (Sketch/Elizabeth Cook/PA)

The prosecution is expected to wrap up early next week. Brand’s team will then put forward their defence - likely at the end of the third week of the trial.

The trial is expected to continue for up to ten weeks.

Brand has sat rigidly in the dock as his trial unfolds. It is not known whether the comedian will give evidence in the coming weeks.

<p>Russell Brand arrived at court with his wife, Laura </p>
Russell Brand arrived at court on Monday with his wife, Laura

There is no obligation for Brand to give evidence in the trial and the choice will be up to him and his team.

Given that the burden of proof is on the prosecution, the defendant is not required to prove that they are innocent.

Defendants also have the right to remain silent, meaning they do not have to testify in their own defence.

Brand’s lawyers will evaluate the evidence put forward by the prosecution before deciding whether the 51-year-old will take to the stand.

Defendants and witnesses who give evidence in trial are subject to cross examination too.

Almost every day, Brand has been accompanied by his wife, Laura Gallacher.

Original source Will Russell Brand give evidence at his rape trial? Defence to begin case next week

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