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Brand’s defence says Channel 4 documentary influenced complainants’ accounts
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Russell Brand’s defence has argued in its closing speech that a 2023 Channel 4 documentary and related newspaper coverage “poisoned the well of justice” by influencing the six women who brought allegations against him. His lawyer, Ian Winter, told the jury the publicity had also damaged Brand’s reputation and made it harder for him to defend himself.
Winter said several complainants had not told anyone about their allegations until after the documentary, and questioned how their evidence might have differed without it. The prosecution has argued the programme did not cause six separate women to recast their memories, while the judge instructed jurors not to treat anonymous allegations in the film as support for the case. Brand denies three rape charges, three sexual assault counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.
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In short
- Brand’s defence says a documentary influenced the six complainants.
- The prosecution disputes that the film changed their memories.
- Brand denies all seven charges.
How this story developed
- 6 minutes ago In his closing speech at Southwark Crown Court, Winter added that several women had not raised their allegations before the documentary, while the prosecution argued it had not changed their memories and the judge cautioned jurors against relying on anonymous claims in the programme.
- 12 minutes ago Russell Brand’s lawyer Ian Winter told jurors that a 2023 Channel 4 documentary and related press coverage had prejudiced the six women’s allegations and harmed Brand’s ability to defend himself; Brand denies the charges.
Coverage · 2 sources
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Originally published by Deadline as “Russell Brand’s Defense Argues Channel 4 Film “Poisoned Well Of Justice Deliberately””.