Russell Brand denies all seven charges as he testifies

Russell Brand denied all seven charges against him as he began testifying in his trial at Southwark Crown Court, answering no when his barrister put each charge to him. The charges are three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault. Six women have made allegations against him, which span 1999 to 2009. Brand denies them all. The prosecution had closed its case before Brand began giving evidence. He told the jury that allegations of sexual misconduct had consumed his life and had a devastating effect on his relationships with friends and colleagues. Asked whether he had persuaded anyone with relevant evidence to testify for his defence, he said he had not. Brand was questioned about the first complainant, who alleges he raped her after they met at the 1999 Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth. She told the court that he raped her in a hotel room. Brand denied the allegation and said he remembered sexual activity that was consensual. He described recalling that they had sex with a condom and testified that he had asked whether she was enjoying it. The other allegations include claims involving two MTV workers in 2001 and 2004, a...