Prosecution Calls Russell Brand a Ruthless Sexual Predator

Prosecutors opened the Russell Brand trial calling him a ruthless, calculating sexual predator. Alex and Jordan cover the charges, the case, and what's ahead.

Speaker 1: The trial of Russell Brand is now underway in London,

and the prosecution's opening was as dramatic as the headlines suggested.

Speaker 2: What did the prosecutor tell the jury?

Speaker 1: On Wednesday at Southwark Crown Court, prosecutor Ryle Carmy-Jones told

jurors that Russell Brand behaved as a ruthless sexual predator

when he assaulted six women over the course of a decade.

She said his desire for sexual contact was indiscriminate and voracious,

and that women were simply a means to an end.

Speaker 2: What are the actual charges?

Speaker 1: Brand, who is 51, has pleaded not guilty to three

counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one

count of indecent assault. The charges involve six women and

alleged offenses between 1999 and 2009. The trial is expected

to last about six weeks.

Speaker 2: How did the prosecutor describe his behavior?

Speaker 1: She said Brand could be funny and charming when he

wanted something in return, but then demanding and entitled, a

flirt with a huge sexual appetite, childlike in his expectation

that his every desire should be met. Then came the

line that's on every front page. He was ruthless, he

was calculating, he was manipulative, and the prosecution say he

was a sexual predator.

Speaker 2: Did she give details of the alleged incidents? Yes, carefully.

Speaker 1: The six women don't know each other. They were allegedly

assaulted in a hotel room, workplaces, a toilet cubicle in

a bar, and at his home address. The earliest case

dates to 1999. when Brand was a rising stand-up comedian

performing at a fringe event during the Labour Party's annual

conference in Bournemouth. Another woman alleges he orally assaulted her

in a London bar restroom in 2004, telling her not

to be a spoil sport when she asked him to stop.

Speaker 2: What about Brand's defense?

Speaker 1: He denies all the charges and has said any sexual

contact would have been consensual. He arrived at court on

bail on Wednesday to a crowd of photographers and told

reporters he felt blessed and hopeful the process would lead

to good outcomes for everybody involved.

Speaker 2: The court also heard about his public persona, right? Yes.

Speaker 1: The prosecution said Brand bragged about being a ladies' man

and a womanizer who wanted to have sex with 5,000

women in his lifetime. The allegations cover a 10-year period

when his career was beginning to flourish, hosting television programs

and a BBC radio show, before moving into Hollywood films

like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.

He moved away from mainstream media years ago, relocated to Florida,

and built a large online following with videos mixing wellness,

conspiracy theories, and religious devotion. He was married to singer

Katy Perry in 2010. They divorced after 14 months.

Speaker 2: This trial is dominating British front pages. Why?

Speaker 1: Because he was one of Britain's most recognizable celebrities, and

the allegations span the peak of his fame. Eight of

ten national newspapers gave the opening prominent coverage. But it's

important to stress these are allegations being tested in court,

and Brand denies them. The jury will hear from the

accusers as the trial continues over the coming weeks.

Speaker 2: Six weeks is a long trial. What should we expect?

Speaker 1: Detailed, difficult testimony. The jury will hear from each of

the six women in turn, and the defense will get

its chance to challenge the prosecution's case. These cases from

the late 90s and 2000s will test memories, evidence, and credibility.

Whatever the verdict, the trial is already a landmark moment

in Britain's reckoning with the entertainment industry's past.