November 3, 2026 6:51am
Russell Brand‘s rape trial has concluded and the jury has begun deliberations on a verdict.
After more than three weeks of evidence, the jury will now consider whether to convict or acquit Brand of seven charges: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault. The latter was reduced from indecent assault during the trial. Brand has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Judge Mr Justice Bennathan spent much of the day summarizing the evidence for the jury, going through each charge in detail. This followed closing arguments from the prosecution and defense.
In legal directions last week, the judge told the jury that they are not under pressure to reach a swift verdict. “No jury can be criticized for taking too little or too much time in their deliberations, you alone must decide on that,” he told them.
Bennathan said the jury must reach unanimous verdicts on each of the charges to convict Brand.
He reminded jurors last week that the burden of proof is on the prosecution and that Brand is entitled to the benefit of the doubt.
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Source: Deadline · Jake Kanter
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