Russell Brand’s latest appearance in court comes after his wife told jurors she was ‘aware’ of his promiscuity and that ‘it was difficult for him to be monogamous’
Russell Brand has arrived at Southwark Crown Court for day 14 of his rape and sexual assault trial.
The entertainer, 51, faces seven charges, three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault. He denies all the charges and has pleaded not guilty. Judge Mr Justice Bennathan told jurors that they are likely to begin considering their verdicts early next week.
Brand arrived at the court this morning holding hands with his wife and was accompanied by members of his entourage as he stepped out of a black Mercedes-Benz. As he walked past members of the press on his way to the court’s entrance, he said “Hey, how’s it going?”. Brand wore his hair tied up in a bun and sunglasses, a grey suit, an open-necked white shirt and beige tie.
On Thursday, Brand’s wife told the court she was aware of his promiscuity and it was hard for him to have one sexual partner. Laura Gallacher, 39, was giving evidence in Brand’s defence, saying her husband is “caring, kind and a wonderful father to our children” but learned while they were dating that he had been having sex with other people.
She first met him in the summer of 2006 when she who was 18 or 19 and the comedian was 31. She said Brand contacted her the next day and they performed a sex act but did not have full sex. Ms Gallacher said they began dating after texting a lot and in around September 2006 it developed into a full sexual relationship. She told the court it progressed at her own pace and she felt cared for and looked after. She added she was then inexperienced and had only had one previous sexual partner.
Ms Gallacher added: “When I met him I was aware that he liked women, and I was aware towards the latter half of that year that he was engaging with other women. I was not interested in having a relationship with him if he was sleeping with other people. I was invested, we both had told each other we loved each other, but it was clear it was difficult for him to be monogamous.”
The couple had met after Brand performed his show Shame at the Edinburgh Festival. Ms Gallacher had been given tickets by her older sister, TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher, who had the same agent as the comedian, Southwark crown court was told.
Laura Gallacher said there had been anticipation in the audience of mainly women and she later introduced herself to Brand in the foyer, telling him his performance was very funny. She said he first asked her “very beautiful” friend if she was a free agent and on being told she was not, Brand turned his attention to her, asking: “And I hope you don’t have a boyfriend?”
The judge said how people meet is often a touching story, before directing Brand’s lawyer Ian Winter KC to move on. Ms Gallacher said they split up in February 2007, admitting she was a little heartbroken. She said she remained friends with Brand while he was married to singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012, and got back together with him in 2015.
Brand could be seen mouthing words at his wife when she told the court he had been baptised after the sex allegations against him were made public three years ago. He smiled during parts of his wife’s evidence and laughed when she said: “We do have many friends and there are colleagues, and we are grateful for those people.”
Asked about his character, she said: “He is an amazingly attentive husband. He has got an eye for detail I’ve never known before. The way he treats me is to really know me, I feel very seen by him in every way. I love him very much.” She added: “We have a very honest, frank and clear relationship and marriage… our relationship has always been [about] honesty.”
Ballet dancer Elia Alvarez Diaz, who dated Brand for three years in the 1990s, said their relationship ended because he cheated on her repeatedly. They studied together at drama school and she said Brand was a complex character who could be exciting to be with. “He was promiscuous and unfaithful,” and would often struggle to pay bills, she said in a statement.
A second ex-girlfriend, Amanda Alguero Alejos, also said Brand repeatedly cheated on her. In a statement, she added: “He was undoubtedly promiscuous, never in front of me and never when I was around. That was not what mattered to me at the time.”
She recalled women circling around him like birds. On Wednesday, Brand said the sex assault claims were traumatic and had a devastating impact on him. The court heard those close to Brand ‘would not touch him with a barge pole’ after he was accused.
The allegations, made by six women, span from 1999 and 2009. Brand denies all the charges. Mr Justice Bennathan told the jury yesterday the case was coming to a close and he hoped they would be sent out to deliberate on Tuesday.
The trial continues.
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