Judge directs not guilty verdict for Russell Brand on one count

A judge directed a not-guilty verdict for Russell Brand on an indecent-assault charge from an alleged 2001 incident, ruling there was insufficient evidence to support it. The judge also added a charge of attempted indecent assault concerning the same allegation, leaving jurors to consider that amended count. Justice Bennathan made the ruling on October 27 at Southwark Crown Court. The allegation is that Brand grabbed a female MTV employee by the arm and tried to drag her into a toilet. Brand denies the charges against him. The amended count is not a verdict on whether the alleged attempt occurred. The decision came during a trial concerning allegations by six women of offenses between 1999 and 2009. Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and the amended attempted-indecent-assault count. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The jury’s outcome on the amended count and the remaining charges has not been reported. The judge directed jurors to return a not-guilty verdict on the original count after concluding the evidence was insufficient for it. The charge change does not resolve the underlying allegation: the jury is still being asked to assess...