Russell Brand pleads not guilty to two more sexual offences
russell brand pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to an additional count of rape and one of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court, adding to earlier denials and prompting a further case management hearing in March.
Russell Brand in court and the new pleas
The 50-year-old broadcaster, actor and media personality appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London to enter pleas on the two fresh charges. He spoke from the dock to confirm his name and the not guilty pleas for a rape charge and a sexual assault charge that are alleged to have taken place in the city in 2009 and relate to two women.
Charges, earlier allegations and the trial timetable
He was charged in December with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault linked to two women. Brand had earlier denied two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault relating to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005 involving four women; those five original charges were announced in April last year. A trial has been scheduled for June to hear the original charges, and a hearing will decide whether the new allegations should be joined to that case. Brand's lawyer said his client needed more time to address the further allegations.
What happened at the March and courtroom procedural remarks
Recorder Andrew Baumgartner said there would be a case management hearing in March. Separately, Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand at a brief hearing that he would renew his bail, reminded him of his bail conditions and asked if he understood; Brand replied, "Yes, your lordship. " Brand is on bail and was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court at a date to be fixed.
What he wore, the Bible and courtroom moments
Descriptions of his arrival varied: he was seen wearing a fedora-style hat, sunglasses and a tiger-print or leopard-print shirt—accounts described the shirt as partially unbuttoned—with one report adding a dark jacket and dangling necklaces. He carried a copy of the Bible into the court building with pages bookmarked and post-it notes inside; a dock officer removed the Bible before the hearing in one account. In the courtroom he confirmed his name and his not guilty pleas. When asked how he was feeling ahead of the hearing, he replied, "Blessed. "
Leaving the court: scuffle, transport and live coverage
As he left the courtroom he put on sunglasses and clutched the Bible, departing with his legal team and four men who had been sitting in the public gallery. Outside the building there was a brief scuffle between his security and a cameraman, and he was later picked up in a black Mercedes. Live coverage of Brand's court appearance concluded that morning.
Origins of the investigation and biographical details
Detectives began investigating allegations into Brand following reporting by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4's Dispatches in 2023. Brand, who was born in Essex, rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and as host of TV shows including Big Brother's Big Mouth, and presented radio programmes on Radio 2 and 6 Music. He presented a Radio 2 show between 2006 and 2008 and fronted Big Brother spin-off shows in the 00s. He went on to a Hollywood career with roles in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
Public response and personal background
The night before publication of the investigations, Brand denied the claims in a video posted online, saying that his relationships had been consensual and accusing the media of a "coordinated attack. " He was married to the US pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012 and is now married to Laura Gallacher, the sister of the TV presenter Kirsty; the couple have three children.
Prosecutors and the court will return for the March case management hearing to set the next procedural steps and to decide whether the new counts will be added to the scheduled June trial.
