British Comedian Russell Brand Convicted of Rape and Sexual Assault

A London jury at Southwark Crown Court has found British comedian and media personality Russell Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The verdicts, delivered on Thursday following a four-week trial, relate to four women and cover offences committed between 2005 and 2009.

The jury unanimously convicted the 51-year-old on four charges while acquitting him of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. Brand, who had pleaded not guilty and maintained that all his sexual relationships were consensual, showed no visible emotion as the verdicts were delivered. His wife, Laura Brand, was present in the public gallery during the proceedings.

Following the verdict, Judge Joel Bennathan remanded Brand in custody until his sentencing hearing scheduled for Monday. Defence lawyer Ian Winter had requested that Brand be granted bail over the weekend to arrange his affairs and speak with his three children. Judge Bennathan rejected the application, stating that Brand possessed considerable resources and that there was a risk he might not return to face sentencing.

Following the hearing, representatives from law enforcement and the prosecution commented on the trial's outcome. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police stated that Brand had used his prominence to exploit women, adding: I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be. Senior prosecutor David Roberts described Brand's conduct as predatory and stated that he had leveraged his celebrity status to commit offences across locations including a radio station, a production set, and his home.

The trial covered events that occurred as Brand's media profile expanded in the United Kingdom. Under British law, the maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment. Additional allegations involving two other women were raised during earlier court hearings but were not part of the charges presented to the jury in this trial.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com