Overview
- The Southwark Crown Court judge on Monday set an Oct. 12 start after saying a June listing risked running out of time and losing jurors to summer holidays.
- All seven allegations will be heard together after the court joined two sets of charges, and the trial is now expected to run for about two months.
- Brand has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three sexual assaults and one indecent assault tied to six women who allege incidents between 1999 and 2009.
- A two-day pre-trial hearing is set for June 16–17, and Brand remains on bail after skipping Monday’s session where barrister Ian Winter KC spoke for him.
- Police opened an inquiry in 2023 following a joint Times and Channel 4 investigation, and prior court reporting described alleged incidents at a Bournemouth hotel and in media workplaces.