Follow-Up: Judge Directs Acquittal on One Russell Brand Charge, Adds Attempted Indecent Assault Count
The sexual-offence trial of British comedian Russell Brand continued on October 27 at Southwark Crown Court in London, where the trial judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, ruled that the evidence on count two of the indictment, an indecent assault charge, was insufficient, and directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict on that count. He also allowed an "attempted indecent assault" charge to be added to the indictment, to which Brand has pleaded not guilty.
The count concerned an allegation from 2001, in which a female MTV employee said Brand grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward a toilet. The judge concluded the evidence could not support a conviction on the original charge, and the case will proceed on the substituted attempted indecent assault count.
Brand still faces multiple rape and sexual assault charges involving six women and alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009; he denies all charges and has pleaded not guilty throughout. The trial is continuing, and the court has not yet ruled on the remaining counts.
Brand, 51, rose to fame as a comedian and television and radio presenter before reinventing himself as an online commentator with a large social media following. The case followed a joint British media investigation in 2023, after which London's Metropolitan Police investigated and brought charges.
Related: Russell Brand Sexual Assault Trial Under Way in London: Witness Relays Accuser's Account in Court
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：本案审理地英国伦敦Southwark刑事法庭。Christopher Hilton摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons / Photo: Southwark Crown Court in London, where the trial is being heard. Photo by Christopher Hilton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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