Brand defence says 2023 coverage influenced complainants

Russell Brand’s barrister argued in closing submissions at Southwark Crown Court that 2023 media coverage influenced the six women who brought allegations against the comedian, undermining the fairness of his trial. Ian Winter KC said reporting about Brand had prompted the complainants to come forward and compromised the case. His argument was a defence claim, not a finding by the court. Brand denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault involving six women. The alleged offences span 1999 to 2009. The case was before the jury for consideration after closing arguments; the reports do not give a verdict. Winter said coverage of allegations in a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and in newspaper reporting led the women to report their own allegations. He argued they were not independent of that coverage and that it may have affected how they understood or recalled events. The evidence brief does not establish that media coverage caused the complainants to come forward; the point was presented as Winter’s contention. The barrister also argued that the time between the alleged offences and reports to police made the case...