Russell Brand's rape and sexual assault trial begins in London: What are the allegations and what has he said in his defense?

British actor and comedian Russell Brand on Monday (Oct. 12) arrived at a London court for the commencement of his rape and sexual assault trial. The 51-year-old faces multiple charges of rape and sexual assault involving six women, based on incidents which allegedly occurred over a decade, between 1999 and 2009.

How long will the trial be?

The trial is taking place at Southwark Crown Court, and the first step is the selection of jury, the BBC reported. There was a significant media presence at the court for the start of the trial, which is expected to last up to 10 weeks.

What are the charges against Brand?

Brand has been charged with three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault. He is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room during a 1999 political conference, raping another woman in 2004 and a third woman in 2009. More details about the allegations are expected to come out during the trial.

What does Brand say about the accusations?

Brand has pleaded not guilty to the charges during pre-trial hearings. Besides, in a social media video, he said he had "never engaged in non-consensual activity."

Brand's early career

Brand gained popularity as a stand-up comedian and went on to star as host of television shows such as Big Brother's Big Mouth. His energetic persona and provocative jokes made him a unique voice and contributed to his fame in Britain. In 2006, he became host of “The Russell Brand Show" on BBC Radio 2, a weekly program that aired on Saturday nights.

That show came to an abrupt halt in 2008 when Brand quit it after his offensive voice messages targeting the late actor Andrew Sachs sparked widespread outrage and violated UK broadcasting regulations. Even Gordon Brown, the British prime minister at the time, condemned Brand's comments calling them "inappropriate and unacceptable."

Hollywood break and later work

Brand later found his footing in Hollywood, featuring in films including "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him To The Greek". Around that time, Brand started dating the American pop star Katy Perry. The two married in October 2010, but the marriage was brief, with the pair getting a divorce in July 2012. Brand has also written a few books, such as the autobiography "My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up" and the self-help guide "Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions".

In recent years, Brand has been hosting podcasts and making YouTube videos. Brand married his second wife, author Laura Gallacher, in 2017, and they share three children.