Russell Brand, 49, has been found not guilty of one indecent assault charge after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to support the allegation.
Mr Justice Bennathan directed jurors on Tuesday morning to return a not guilty verdict on the count, which related to claims Brand grabbed a female MTV worker by the arm and tried to drag her into a toilet. The charge has now been changed to attempted indecent assault, to which Brand has pleaded not guilty.
The judge explained his decision to jurors in detail. “At the end of the prosecution case and with the agreement of the lawyers one of my jobs is to review the evidence,” he said. “Not to decide whether the evidence is accurate or false, whether the defendant is guilty or not, but to review is there evidence there that the jury could return a verdict.”
He continued: “In respect of count 2 I have reached the decision there is insufficient evidence of indecent assault. That is my decision not yours. You will be directed to return a not guilty verdict in court two.”
In court on Tuesday, the judge selected one of the jurors to formally deliver the not guilty verdict on the indecent assault count. The development reduces the number of charges Brand faces as his trial continues at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Regarding the new attempted indecent assault charge, the judge told jurors: “The defendant Russell Brand has entered a not guilty plea to this count.”
Brand faces multiple charges of rape and sexual assault spanning several years, all of which he denies. The allegations involve several women and date back to the height of his fame as a presenter and comedian. The trial has drawn significant media attention on both sides of the Atlantic.
The case centers on accusations from multiple women who came forward following a 2023 joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches. That reporting detailed allegations of sexual assaults, emotional abuse, and controlling behavior by Brand between 2006 and 2013.
The charges Brand still faces include multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault. The trial is expected to continue with the prosecution presenting evidence on the remaining counts. Brand was granted bail ahead of proceedings and has appeared in court both in person and virtually for earlier hearings.
The comedian, who built his career on provocative stand-up and presenting roles on BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4, has consistently maintained his innocence. He has suggested the allegations are part of a coordinated attack against him.
The judge’s ruling on Tuesday marks a significant procedural moment in the trial, though it does not affect the bulk of the charges Brand still faces. Legal observers note that judges routinely review evidence at the close of the prosecution case to determine whether charges can properly be left to the jury.
Brand’s trial continues at Southwark Crown Court.