Prosecution opens Russell Brand trial as he voices hope for all involved

The prosecution began outlining its case against Russell Brand on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. Brand faces seven sexual offence charges involving six women at Southwark Crown Court and has pleaded not guilty to every charge, The Guardian reported. The Guardian named the prosecutor as Riel Karmy-Jones and said the jury had been sworn in on 13 October. Sky News reporter Martin Brunt described the opening from inside court.

Arriving at court, Brand told reporters he felt “blessed” and “concerned but hopeful” that the proceedings would lead to “good outcomes for everybody involved”. “That’s my prayer,” he added, according to The Guardian.

The Crown Prosecution Service’s notice of 23 December 2025 listed five existing charges involving four women and alleged events between 1999 and 2005. It also announced the authorisation of two further charges involving two additional women, bringing the combined total to seven charges involving six women: three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. The additional charges, one of rape and one of sexual assault, concerned alleged events in 2009.

In its account of the prosecution opening, Sky News reported that Brand had told police he could not recall the complainants’ names or meeting them, but said that if any sexual contact had taken place, it was consensual. At that stage, the court was hearing a prosecution summary of allegations, not testimony from the complainant herself, the broadcaster noted.