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WorldQuiet 5d · day 6

Russell Brand defence tells jury media coverage 'poisoned the well' before trial

At Southwark Crown Court, barrister Ian Winter KC used his closing speech to argue journalists prompted complainants to come forward against Brand.

newest coverage 5d agosummary written 5d ago8 pieces6 likes & upvotes NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • Russell Brand denies seven charges at Southwark Crown Court: three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault.
  • Defence closing speech argues 2023 Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and Times/Sunday Times reporting 'poisoned the well', prompting complainants to come forward years after alleged events.
  • Judge had directed jurors the Channel 4 documentary was 'very one-sided' and 'produced in a dramatic manner'.
  • Defence says Brand's extensive consensual sexual activity is lawful and inconsistent with being a 'psychopath who rapes people'.

“Can you possibly be sure in this case that out of the many, many women who voluntarily had sex with Mr Brand, that he raped just three of them?”

Ian Winter KC, Brand's defence barrister · BBC News ↗ · Nov 1

Russell Brand DefendantIan Winter KC Brand's defence barristerLaura Brand Brand's wifeChannel 4 Broadcaster of the 2023 Dispatches documentary

Russell Brand defence tells jury media coverage 'poisoned the well' before trial
bbc.co.uk

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in two hours at Nov 2, 8 AM; 8 pieces over 6 days (8 articles) Nov 2, 6 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Nov 2, 8 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 2, Google News 1Nov 2, 10 AM — quietNov 2, 12 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Nov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 4 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 8 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 4 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Mastodon 1Nov 3, 8 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quiet 1
Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6yesterdaynow · 9:05 AM ET
  1. 1

    Defence barrister Ian Winter KC delivers closing speech

    Winter told jurors that journalists 'poisoned the well of justice', that the Channel 4 documentary was 'very one-sided' per the judge's direction, and that Brand's extensive but lawful sex life should not be conflated with the allegations; he argued the six complainants were 'thoroughly contaminated by the programme'.

    “So, they poisoned the well in respect of things of which Mr Brand is innocent.”
    — Ian Winter KC
    1. 3 outlets Channel 4 documentary and journalists 'poisoned the well' against Russell Brand, court hears

      first by Mastodon, 5d ago · also BBC, Yahoo News Canada

  2. background

    Brand stands trial at Southwark Crown Court on seven counts — Brand faces three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one allegation of attempted indecent assault.

  3. background

    Channel 4 and Times journalists publish allegations against Brand — A Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and articles in the Times and Sunday Times made allegations about Russell Brand in 2023, which the defence says prompted complainants to come forward.