Woman accusing Russell Brand of rape testifies at London trial
publishers 89articles 120first reported 12 Oct, 06:30 UTCdeveloping since 12 Oct · 11 editions
A woman accusing British comedian and actor Russell Brand of rape told a London court on Thursday that she repeatedly said no and felt unable to fight back during an alleged attack in a hotel room in 1999.
The woman told Southwark Crown Court that she met Brand at a cabaret show during the UK Labour Party conference and invited him to her room to continue discussing politics. She said she believed Brand was gay and felt “sexually safe” with him. According to her testimony, Brand then forced himself on her despite her protests.
During cross-examination, Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter, challenged her account, accused her of being untruthful and suggested she could have left if she feared an assault. The woman rejected those suggestions, saying she was terrified and had nowhere to run.
Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault involving six women. The alleged offences date from 1999 to 2009.
In opening the prosecution case earlier in the week, Riel Karmy-Jones described Brand as “ruthless, calculated and manipulative” and alleged that he pursued sexual contact regardless of whether women protested or had an opportunity to react. Those characterizations are prosecution claims that Brand denies. The trial is expected to last about six weeks.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 106 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 89
- Source articles
- 120
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 106 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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