Russell Brand trial live: Comedian’s wife giving evidence as surprise witness in rape and sex assault case

Russell Brand trial live: Comedian’s wife giving evidence as surprise witness in rape and sex assault case Laura Gallacher and Russell Brand walked into Southwark Crown Court holding hands as the trial resumed on Thursday - Bookmark Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Russell Brand’s wife Laura Gallacher is giving evidence in support of her husband a day after he took the stand to defend himself against rape and sex assault charges. Ms Gallacher and Mr Brand walked into Southwark Crown Court holding hands as the trial resumes today. His wife’s evidence comes a day after Brand told jurors at his rape trial he has dedicated much of his life to “beyond reckless philandering and idiocy”, and admitted he had been wrong to use his fame to get sex. The 51-year-old gave evidence for more than four hours at Southwark Crown Court, insisting that “consent is more important than sex itself” and issuing a string of denials to the charges he faces. He is accused of raping women in a hotel room, at his home, and in a bar toilet, and other women have accused Brand of sexually assaulting them in a recording studio and a radio station corridor. In four hours of tense evidence, Russell Brand told jurors he rose to ‘staggering fame’ but ‘misused’ it for sex Striding into the witness box at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, Russell Brand appeared tense and stiff. Standing bolt upright, with his hands clasped tightly behind his back, he began his evidence by loudly denying the allegations against him, responding “no” as his lawyer Ian Winter KC put each accusation to him. The comedian, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and artfully arranged necktie, told the jury that his notoriety had soared over the 10-year period of the alleged attacks and he had achieved “staggering fame” by the time he married Katy Perry the following year. Over more than four hours of evidence, he blamed a 2023 Dispatches documentary alleging sexual misconduct for the accusations he is now facing, insisting the “devastating” media coverage had left him unable to persuade a single person to give evidence on his behalf.