Russell Brand’s Defense Says There Is No Evidence He Believed Alleged Rapes Were Normal

Russell Brand’s defense lawyer told the jury there was no evidence the comedian was “some kind of psychopath who rapes people and thinks it’s normal” as he delivered closing arguments in Brand’s trial. Ian Winter KC argued that Brand’s behavior during and after the alleged incidents indicated that he believed the encounters were consensual.

Brand has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault. The alleged incidents took place between 1999 and 2009. The closing arguments followed a three-week trial, with the prosecution describing the defense case as “a lot of half-truths” that had been “spun into lies.”

Winter pointed to Brand leaving email addresses and photographs with complainants and attempting to kiss one of them goodbye. He argued that such actions were inconsistent with the prosecution’s allegations, saying that “rapists do not leave their address” or photographs.

The lawyer also criticized a 2023 Channel 4 documentary that featured five women accusing Brand of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse. He described the program as one-sided and argued that it had influenced the complainants in the current case and compromised the fairness of the proceedings.

One complainant, who alleges that Brand anally raped her after consensual sex in 2009, said during her evidence that she had watched the documentary. Winter questioned how her evidence might have differed if she had not seen the program, and claimed that the allegations had been prompted by the documentary and its publicity. He also argued that the claims featured in the program had not been tested in court.

Winter further accused the prosecution of relying on Brand’s 2007 memoir, “My Booky Wook,” in an effort to support its case. Brand had been questioned about passages in which he wrote that he pretended to be gay to gain women’s trust. The lawyer argued that material written years after the alleged events should not be treated as evidence of what Brand was doing in 1999.

The defense also urged the jury not to consider Brand’s “highly promiscuous” lifestyle when reaching its verdict. Winter said that any personal distaste for Brand’s conduct was irrelevant and that the jury should focus solely on whether the evidence established the allegations beyond reasonable doubt. He concluded by telling the court that Brand was innocent.

Sources: Variety.