Russell Brand rape trial hears closing arguments from defence

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 03:45 · Archive

Russell Brand's barrister told jurors there is no evidence Brand is a psychopath who rapes people, as closing arguments began in his rape trial.

Russell Brand attended Southwark Crown Court for the 15th day of his rape trial on Monday. The 51-year-old comedian was accompanied by his wife Laura Gallacher and her father Bernard Gallacher, a retired golfer who won the Ryder Cup and captained the European team three times. Brand denies three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault against six women.

The allegations span a ten-year period between 1999 and 2009 and include claims that Brand attacked women in a hotel room, at his luxury London home, in their workplaces and in a Soho bar toilet.

Brand's barrister, Ian Winter KC, delivered the closing speech for the defence. He told jurors there is no evidence Brand is "some sort of psychopath who rapes people and thinks it's normal". The lawyer argued that if Brand had genuinely believed the women had not consented, he could not have behaved normally during and after the alleged incidents. He said: "He obviously genuinely believed that they were consenting because that's the only thing that would explain why his behaviour was normal."

Mr Winter also questioned the credibility of the prosecution's case, asking jurors to consider whether it was believable that Brand would have attacked only three women over ten years when he had "an immense amount of sex". The Daily Mail reports that he questioned why the alleged victims did not "kick and scream" more when they were attacked.

Mr Winter suggested the six women only reported the attacks after public opinion of Brand was "poisoned" by Channel 4's Dispatches programme in 2023, and questioned why they had not come forward during the MeToo movement in 2017.

Brand's wife Laura gave evidence on an earlier day of the trial, describing him as "caring" and "kind". She told the court they started dating in 2007, broke up later that year, reconciled in 2015, married in 2017 and now share three children.

How it is being reported

• Russell Brand's lawyer questions why victims did not 'scream more' when they were attacked as his father-in-law Bernard Gallacher accompanies him to courtRussell Brand's barrister today claimed the actor is not a 'psychopath that rapes people and thinks that is normal'.Daily Mail · 3 Nov, 03:33
• Retired golfer Bernard Gallacher appears in court for son-in-law Russell Brand's rape trialBernard Gallacher sat next to his daughter in the public gallery as Brand’s lawyer started to deliver his closing speechThe Independent · 2 Nov, 14:48
• Russell Brand appears in court as lawyer delivers closing speech to jury in rape trialRussell Brand arrived in court accompanied his wife Laura Gallacher and his father-in-law, Ryder Cup-winning golfer Bernard Gallacher, for the 15th day of his rape trialThe Mirror · 2 Nov, 11:20

In this story: Russell Brand · Laura Gallacher · Bernard Gallacher · Ian Winter KC · Southwark Crown Court · Channel 4

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log