Russell Brand arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday 12 October for the start of his trial on rape and other sexual offence charges, the BBC reports. The allegations involve six women and offences said to have taken place between 1999 and 2009. Brand denies the charges.
According to the BBC, Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, a sexual offence under British law. He pleaded not guilty at hearings ahead of the trial. The charges remain allegations, not findings that he committed the offences.
The case is being heard at the Crown Court, which deals with serious criminal cases. According to the BBC, jury selection was expected to begin on Monday morning. The BBC’s morning report confirmed Brand’s arrival at court but did not establish whether jury selection had begun.
The trial could last up to ten weeks, the BBC reports. That is an estimate of its possible duration, rather than a confirmed timetable for its conclusion.
