A judge overseeing Russell Brand’s criminal trial has dismissed a charge of indecent assault against the British comedian and actor, replacing it with a charge of attempted indecent assault.
Judge Bennathan made the decision midway through the trial, telling jurors he had concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to support the indecent assault charge in relation to an alleged incident involving an MTV employee in 2001, according to Sky News.
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The allegation relates to an incident in which Brand allegedly grabbed the woman by the arm and attempted to drag her into the toilet.
The judge then added to the indictment a charge of attempted indecent assault, relating to the same alleged incident. Although Brand was formally acquitted of the original charge of indecent assault, jurors will still be asked to determine whether he attempted to commit the alleged offense. To formalize the decision, the judge selected a juror to return a verdict of not guilty on the original charge.
Describing the proceedings as a “slightly contrived process,” Bennathan told the jury: “The defendant Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to this charge. »
The development came after the court heard four police statements made by Brand.
Brand, 51, who rose to fame as a comedian and TV presenter before launching a Hollywood career with films including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Take It to the Greek”, has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
The trial taking place at Southwark Crown Court in London focuses on allegations made by six women relating to incidents dating from 1999 to 2009. Brand initially faced seven charges, including three of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.
The proceedings featured testimony from several women who accused Brand of sexual misconduct. Last week, a fourth accuser told the court that Brand sexually assaulted her while she worked at a radio station in 2004 or 2005. She alleged he pushed her against a wall, forcibly kissed her and touched her breasts and buttocks while people with him watched without intervening.
During the prosecution’s opening arguments, Riel Karmy-Jones KC described Brand as “ruthless and calculated”, alleging that his sexual appetite was “indiscriminate and voracious”. Prosecutors argued that the six women, who did not know each other, came forward independently.
The criminal investigation follows a joint investigation by the Sunday Times and Channel 4’s ‘Dispatches’ in September 2023, which brought allegations of rape, sexual assault and psychological abuse against Brand into the public eye.
Brand has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges against him.
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