Brand: Day 5 - “Wild-eyed maniac”

“Wild-eyed maniac.” The second complainant tells the jury Russell Brand grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into a toilet while she was working at MTV in the early 2000s. She describes struggling to free herself, while the defence suggests Brand was seeking consensual sexual activity. The court also hears from witnesses connected to the first complainant's allegation of rape in 1999, including two men who worked with Brand at the time. Russell Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault relating to six women. He denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty takes us through the evidence, the challenges from the defence and what the jury heard on day five of the trial. A warning this podcast contains strong language and graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Follow Fame Under Fire: Russell Brand on Trial for daily coverage from Southwark Crown Court, bringing you what the jury hears as the trial unfolds. Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Digital Journalist: Jem Westgate Production coordinator: Ellie Dover Junior Production Manager: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Mark Burrows Editor: Clare Fordham Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Chris Walsh-Heron Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts