{
  "id": 14699326,
  "title": "‘I couldn’t breathe’, Russell Brand’s alleged rape victim tells court",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/i-couldnt-breathe-russell-brands-alleged-rape-victim-tells-court",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T13:00:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/news-world/i-couldnt-breathe-russell-brands-alleged-rape-victim-tells-court/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by comedy star Russell Brand over two decades ago testified in a London court that she felt \"dirty\" and scared after the alleged attack. The jury at Southwark Court was shown a 2023 police interview where the woman accused Brand of raping her in a hotel room in Bournemouth, England, in 1999. She said she had met Brand at one of his theatre shows and suggested they continue their interaction in her hotel room. When she returned from the restroom, Brand was on top of her, and she felt \"taken aback\" and \"shocked\". She described Brand as \"really heavy\" and \"couldn't even breathe\". The woman said she repeatedly said \"no\" to Brand's advances, but he persisted, pushing her onto the bed. She estimated her weight to be between 6.5 and 7 stone (91-98 pounds), while Brand was much larger. In the 2023 interview, the woman described Brand as \"lizard-like\" and said she felt \"frozen\" during the assault. She testified that Brand did not seem remorseful and simply got up after the incident. The woman said the experience left her feeling \"dirty\" and believing it was her fault. Brand, 51, denies the charges, calling his accuser a \"lizard-like\" predator. The trial, which began amid significant media scrutiny, involves testimony from six women alleging sexual misconduct by Brand between 1999 and 2009.",
  "summary": "Brand's trial began amid a storm of media attention, with the prosecution on accusing him of being a ruthless and manipulative sexual predator.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Toronto Sun",
        "title": "‘I couldn’t breathe’, Russell Brand’s alleged sex assault victim says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/i-couldnt-breathe-russell-brands-alleged-sex-assault-victim-says",
        "published": "2026-10-15T12:38:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Russell Brand accuser says alleged rape left her afraid she may be pregnant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/russell-brand-accuser-says-alleged-rape-left-her-afraid-she-may-be",
        "published": "2026-10-15T12:54:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "UK comedian Russell Brand’s accuser tells jurors ‘I know he raped me’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/uk-comedian-russell-brands-accuser-tells-jurors-i-know-he-raped-me",
        "published": "2026-10-15T16:06:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}