Russell Brand's Sex Crimes Trial Begins in London as Jury Is Selected

Russell Brand's Sex Crimes Trial Begins in London as Jury Is Selected

October 13, 2026 — British comedian and actor Russell Brand appeared in court in London on Monday as jury selection got underway for his trial on charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. The 51-year-old, once one of Britain's most recognizable broadcasters, faces some of the most serious allegations of his career — and the trial is expected to last around six weeks.

The Charges

Brand faces seven counts in total: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, relating to six women between 1999 and 2009. The allegations became public in 2023 after an investigation by journalists, and Brand has denied all of them from the start.

A Tense Day at Southwark Crown Court

On Monday, Brand arrived at London's Southwark Crown Court wearing sunglasses and accompanied by his wife. Inside the courtroom, he sat in the dock, mostly staring straight ahead or with his eyes closed as potential jurors were considered.

Judge Joel Bennathan addressed the jury pool directly, acknowledging that the defendant is a well-known public figure. "We are about to start the trial of one Mr Russell Brand," he told them. "Many of you will have heard of him."

The judge took care to weed out anyone who had already formed views about the case. Potential jurors who said they had watched a documentary aired about three years ago, or had read a long newspaper article from the same time covering the misconduct allegations, were excluded from the pool. "Those are allegations he firmly denies," the judge reminded the courtroom.

"You Must Not Carry Out Any Research"

Those jurors who made the initial cut received a stern warning. "The defendant is clearly someone very well known," the judge said. "You absolutely must not carry out any research at all about this defendant Russell Brand." The selected jurors are expected to be formally sworn in on Tuesday, with prosecutors opening their case later in the week.

From TV Stardom to the Dock

Brand was a fixture on British television in the 2000s, famous for his flamboyant style, sharp wit and rock-star persona. He presented on the BBC, hosted radio shows and went on to star in Hollywood films including "Get Him to the Greek" in 2010. That same year he married American singer Katy Perry; the marriage ended after 14 months.

In more recent years, Brand has largely stepped away from mainstream entertainment, building a large online following with programs focused on politics, religion and free speech.

Why This Trial Matters

The case is one of the highest-profile criminal trials involving a British celebrity in recent memory. With a six-week trial ahead, both the prosecution and Brand's legal team will face intense public and media scrutiny. As the trial gets underway, the court's message to jurors was clear: decide the case on the evidence heard in that courtroom — and nothing else.