The defence told the jury that while Russell Brand led a promiscuous lifestyle, he genuinely believed all of his sexual encounters were entirely consensual. To counter a specific 1999 allegation, counsel noted Brand provided his real email address, left photographs, and kissed the complainant goodbye. The court was also told that the public accusations prompted Great Ormond Street Hospital to block Brand from visiting his infant son following open-heart surgery.
Key points
The defence maintains that media reporting improperly tainted the testimony of the compla…: The defence maintains that media reporting improperly tainted the testimony of the complainants and compromised the fairness of the legal process.
Jurors were told that Brand's previous promiscuity was fully lawful and based on a genuin…: Jurors were told that Brand's previous promiscuity was fully lawful and based on a genuine belief of mutual consent.
The defence referenced the testimony of Brand's wife to argue she would not have married…: The defence referenced the testimony of Brand's wife to argue she would not have married him if he were guilty.
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Journalists "poisoned the well of justice" by prompting complainants to come forward and make criminal allegations against Brand, jurors have heard.
In his closing speech on Monday, Ian Winter KC, Brand's defence barrister, said a Channel 4 documentary and stories in the Times and Sunday Times that made allegations about Brand in 2023, "caused people who had not previously considered for it to be appropriate to bring criminal allegations against him, to do so, and very many years after."
Brand faces seven counts; three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one allegation of attempted indecent assault.
He denies all the allegations.
On Monday at Southwark Crown Court, Winter told jurors that "living a highly promiscuous life is entirely lawful".
He added: "Can you possibly be sure in this case that out of the many, many women who voluntarily had sex with Mr Brand, that he raped just three of them?"
Winter said it was an "extremely curious feature" of the case that Brand "obviously genuinely believed that they were consenting because that's the only thing…
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