Brand’s lawyer urges acquittal, arguing documentary influenced accusers

Russell Brand’s barrister has asked jurors to find him not guilty, arguing that a 2023 television documentary and newspaper reports influenced the women who later accused him of sexual offences.

In his closing speech at Southwark Crown Court on 2 November, Ian Winter KC said journalists had “poisoned the well of justice” by prompting women to come forward years after the alleged incidents. He argued that the six complainants had been “thoroughly contaminated” by the Channel 4 Dispatches programme.

Brand, 51, denies three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault. The allegations concern six women and span 1999 to 2009.

The prosecution has said the women did not know one another and went to police separately after the documentary. Winter disputed the significance of their independence, arguing that the programme had influenced their accounts. His remarks were the defence’s argument, not a finding by the court.

One complainant, whose account of an alleged 2009 rape was heard earlier in the trial, said watching the programme was the first time she had felt a “monumental change” and understood “it wasn’t me”. Winter asked the jury what her evidence would have been had she not seen it.

Winter also argued that Brand’s sexual behaviour was lawful when consensual and urged jurors to distinguish it from the offences charged. He ended by inviting them to return not-guilty verdicts.

After the defence speech concluded, the judge sent jurors home for the day. Sky News reported that the judge was expected to begin summing up on 3 November.