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British actor and comedian Russell Brand appeared before London's Southwark Crown Court on Monday as his trial began over allegations of rape and sexual assault involving six women between 1999 and 2009.
The 51-year-old has denied all seven charges against him, which include three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, a separate criminal offence under English law. The trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks.
Brand arrived at court accompanied by his wife, Laura Gallacher, but did not make any comments to reporters as he entered the building.
Jury selection began on the first day of the trial, with proceedings expected to move on to prosecution evidence and witness testimony once the jurors have been appointed.
The allegations previously outlined in court include claims that Brand raped a woman in a hotel room in Bournemouth, England, pressured a television employee into a sexual act and sexually assaulted a radio station employee. Brand has denied the allegations and maintains his innocence.
No verdict has been reached in the case.
Brand first rose to prominence as a stand-up comedian before becoming widely known through his television presenting work in the 2000s. After hosting programs on Channel 4, he went on to appear in Hollywood productions, establishing himself as a familiar figure in British television and cinema.
In recent years, he has shifted much of his work towards podcasting and producing online content, while the criminal proceedings against him continue.
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