Jury in Russell Brand rape trial begins considering verdicts

The jury has begun considering verdicts in Russell Brand’s trial at Southwark Crown Court, where he denies rape and sexual assault charges. The case concerns allegations from six women and centres on whether the incidents were consensual; a verdict will determine whether Brand is found guilty of any of the seven charges.

The charges relate to alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009: three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault. Brand told the court that his past sexual behaviour was obsessive but consensual, while prosecutors said the women described him ignoring their refusals. His barrister argued that the encounters were not unlawful and that later media coverage had affected the case; the judge said the jury must reach unanimous verdicts.