Russell Brand has arrived to London’s Southwark Crown Court for the start of his criminal trial.
The former actor and comedian has been charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.
The charges were brought by the U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service (similar to a D.A.) in April and December last year.
The charges from April are said to have occurred between 1999 and 2005 and involve four women. The additional charges brought in December relate to two further women and are said to have taken place in 2009.
The charges were brought following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Brand has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Brand arrived to court on Monday wearing a grey suit and sunglasses. He was accompanied by his wife, Laura Gallacher, whom he married in 2017. The trial, the outcome of which will be decided by 12 jurors, could last up to two months. Brand is on bail throughout.
The opening day of the trial is expected to deal with jury selection, with opening arguments from both the prosecution and defense tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.
In the mid-2000s, Brand was best known as a comedian and actor, presenting shows such as “Big Brother’s Big Mouth” and starring in films such as “Get Him to the Greek” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” He has since pivoted to podcasting and influencing online.
In 2023, Brand was the subject of a joint investigation by The Sunday Times of London and Channel 4 documentary “Dispatches,” which published allegations against him of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse. Brand strongly denied the allegations.
Following the investigation, the Metropolitan Police began their own investigation, resulting in the charges brought last year.
“We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4, Sunday Times and Times investigation in September 2023,” the CPS’s chief crown prosecutor Jaswant Narwal said at the time the first charges were brought. “We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.”
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.”