Friend of Russell Brand Accuser Tells Court Alleged Rape Really Hurt
A friend of a woman accusing Russell Brand of rape told Southwark Crown Court that the complainant stated the alleged attack had “really, really hurt,” according to bbc.com.
Testimony at Southwark Crown Court
The trial involving Russell Brand continued as a witness spoke via video link regarding events originating in 2009. bbc.com reported that the witness attended the Hammersmith Apollo theatre in London with the alleged victim that year, where the two were invited to the defendant’s dressing room after his comedy show. The witness stated that her friend visited Brand’s house in London soon after meeting at the theatre, later describing the encounter as highly distressing. According to bbc.com, the complainant said Brand was quite aggressive and forcibly performed an act that caused severe pain. When they spoke about it quite soon after, the witness said the complainant was just crying and really upset, recalling that her friend said Brand forcibly put it in her bum and it really really hurt. Another friend of the same complainant gave evidence from the witness box, telling the jury that the woman reported telling Brand to stop during the alleged rape.
In recorded police interviews played for the jury, the complainant stated that she did not consent to anal sex at Brand’s Hampstead home, according to the BBC. The Independent added that the woman felt completely degraded and treated like a piece of meat following the encounter. She did not respond straight away because she was upset, but eventually replied that she thought he had pushed her far enough and treated her like an animal, to which his response was immediate with an apology saying I’m sorry. Russell Brand attended the trial with his wife, Laura Gallacher. She described receiving the message as horrible and making her feel as she had during the alleged attack earlier that year, adding that she felt completely degraded and like she’d been treated like an animal and like a piece of meat. She stated she didn’t consent to what happened to me, noting she had said that repeatedly in the questioning and made it clear she thought she was going to have penetrative vaginal sex with a condom.
Brand Denies Non-Consensual Sexual Activity
WBAL-TV reported that the allegations span a 10-year period from 1999 to 2009 and involve six female complainants who allege encounters in workplaces, hotel rooms, and other locations. During police interviews, Brand denied ever engaging in non-consensual sexual activity.
WBAL-TV noted that defense lawyer Ian Winter questioned the women’s accounts during the proceedings and is expected to outline his case, arguing that past sexual encounters have been reimagined. It remains unclear whether Brand will testify as the trial moves forward.
