Russell Brand's barrister has urged jurors at Southwark Crown Court to separate the comedian's behaviour towards women from the question of whether he committed any crime, as he delivered his closing speech on Monday 2 November. Ian Winter KC told the jury that being disrespectful or rude, or acting badly during sex, was not a crime if there was consent. He argued jurors might find Brand's conduct distasteful or immoral, but that such a view did not by itself prove the charges.

Consent at the centre of the defence

The defence case centred on consent. Mr Winter told jurors Brand had been open in his evidence about what he remembered and what he did not, and had not hidden his promiscuity. He argued the jury should focus on whether the prosecution had proved a lack of consent, rather than on a broader judgement of Brand's character.

Claim over the documentary

Mr Winter also argued that a 2023 Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, along with reporting by The Times and The Sunday Times, had "poisoned the well of justice" and invited women who had not complained at the time to reconsider and come forward. He said the passage of time between the alleged incidents and the reports to police created further problems for the case.

Prosecution's closing case

The prosecution presented its closing speech on Friday. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC had told jurors Brand treated women as a "disposable commodity" during the period covered by the allegations. Brand, 51, denies three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault, relating to six women and alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009. The trial continues.

Sources: BritBrief; AAP, 2 November 2026. Second source replaced per lead clearance: AAP corroborates the closing speech, charges and period.