{
  "id": 16912432,
  "title": "Russell Brand tells jury friends won't defend him over sex crime allegations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/russell-brand-tells-jury-friends-wont-defend-him-over-sex-crime",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T14:39:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-29/russell-brand-defence-case-begins/107321010"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Russell Brand testified in his trial, informing the jury that he could not rely on friends to defend him due to them discrediting him following a documentary alleging his sexual misconduct. The 51-year-old entertainer is on trial at London's Southwark Crown Court, accused of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against six women between 1999 and 2009. Brand denies all charges and maintains he never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity. The prosecution alleges the women learned of his alleged behavior through a documentary and news articles, each coming forward independently. Brand stated the documentary had a devastating impact on his life and relationships, making it impossible to convince anyone to provide evidence on his behalf. His lawyer asked if anyone would touch him, to which Brand replied, \"No.\" Brand also denied grabbing a woman's breasts and dragging her into a toilet at a bar. He claimed he was not famous or well-known at the time, and only achieved significant fame after marrying Katy Perry in 2010. He acknowledged being promiscuous during his younger years but denied any goal of sleeping with 5,000 women. The prosecution questioned Brand on his pattern of behavior, with Brand expressing surprise at the characterization and describing the allegations as having consumed his life.",
  "summary": "Russell Brand told the court he did not commit the crimes and believed sexual consent was \"fundamental, essential, necessary\" and \"more important than sex itself\".",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Russell Brand told police he never had non-consensual sex",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/russell-brand-told-police-he-never-had-non-consensual-sex",
        "published": "2026-10-28T03:33:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Russell Brand says allegations had devastating impact on him",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/russell-brand-says-allegations-had-devastating-impact-on-him",
        "published": "2026-10-28T10:48:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Russell Brand denies all charges as he takes the stand at his rape and sex assault trial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/russell-brand-denies-all-charges-as-he-takes-the-stand-at-his-rape",
        "published": "2026-10-28T11:19:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Toronto Sun",
        "title": "Russell Brand tells sex assault trial ‘consent is fundamental’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/russell-brand-tells-sex-assault-trial-consent-is-fundamental",
        "published": "2026-10-28T14:09:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Russell Brand takes the stand at his rape and sexual assault trial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/russell-brand-takes-the-stand-at-his-rape-and-sexual-assault-trial",
        "published": "2026-10-28T15:05:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}