Russell Brand's trial has taken a significant turn: a judge has directed a not-guilty verdict on an indecent assault charge while replacing it with attempted indecent assault. The allegation remains before the court in a revised form as his trial continues.
The development came Tuesday, October 27, at London's Southwark Crown Court. Mr Justice Bennathan concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the original indecent assault count and instructed jurors to acquit Brand of that charge.
The count concerns an alleged incident involving a female MTV worker in 2001. She accused Brand of grabbing her arm and trying to pull her into a men's toilet-an allegation he contests.
The distinction is crucial: the directed acquittal concerns the original count. It does not resolve the substituted attempted indecent assault allegation or the other charges.
Addressing the revised count, the judge confirmed that Brand had entered a not-guilty plea. Sky News reported that the change came at the halfway stage of proceedings.
Brand, 51, also faces three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The wider case involves allegations from six women concerning incidents between 1999 and 2009. He denies the charges and has consistently denied engaging in nonconsensual sexual activity.
Alongside the legal proceedings, Brand has publicly embraced Christianity. He was baptised in the River Thames in April 2024, with adventurer and fellow Christian Bear Grylls participating, and subsequently spoke about the experience's significance to his faith.
Tuesday's hearing also included accounts of Brand's police interviews, in which he denied nonconsensual sexual activity, Reuters reported. The trial continues, with the remaining allegations unresolved.
