The key facts
- Russell Brand, 51, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on seven charges: three rapes, three sexual assaults and one attempted indecent assault; he denies the charges
- Prosecutor Rail Carmi-Jones KC said the six complainants do not know one another and did not seek publicity
- The defence stated that Brand's only conviction is a fine for cannabis possession in 1995
Closing arguments
Closing arguments in the Russell Brand case were heard at Southwark Crown Court in London on 30 October, BBC News reports. Brand, 51, faces seven charges: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault. He denies all the charges.
The prosecution's case
Prosecutor Rail Carmi-Jones KC told the jury that the case brings together six different women who do not know one another. According to her, they did not seek 'publicity' and gained nothing from going to the police apart from 'some closure' over what they had experienced, and because of the trial they were forced to relive what had happened. She cited testimony about the defendant's abrupt change in behaviour — 'from charming to frightening and repulsive' — and noted that in the rape allegations he 'did not stop until he achieved his goal'. The prosecutor also rejected the suggestion that the documentary prompted the women to 'reinterpret' what had happened: 'There is no magic power in that documentary.' She added that Brand, during police questioning, 'could not remember anything', whereas now, by contrast, he 'suddenly remembers a great many details'. Carmi-Jones allowed that Brand 'may now be a completely different person' than during the period from 1999 to 2009, when, according to the charges, the alleged events took place.
The defence's case and the wife's testimony
Defence representative Polly Dyer told the jury that Brand pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis in 1995 and was fined, but has no other 'convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings'. The day before, Brand's wife Laura appeared in court, calling her husband 'a kind and wonderful father'. The prosecutor described her as 'undoubtedly a lovely wife' who had bravely given evidence, but stressed that she was not with Brand during the period of the first five alleged incidents, nor during the last two, and that contact during those times was, in her words, 'rare'. The trial continues.
Image source, PA 
