Fame Under Fire

What does it mean to give evidence about rape or sexual assault, and how can the courts ensure justice without causing further trauma? A warning this episode contains references to rape and sexual assault. Following Russell Brand's conviction and sentencing, Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is joined by barrister Elisabeth Acker to answer listeners' questions about the trial and the wider criminal justi...

Russell Brand is sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. But what did the women he assaulted tell the court about the lasting impact of his crimes? A warning this episode contains references to rape and sexual assault. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty reports from Southwark Crown Court, where the judge describes Brand as a sexual predator. We hear the judge’s sentencing remarks and how the four...

A warning this episode contains references to rape and sexual assault. The detective who led the investigation into Russell Brand speaks to Fame Under Fire after his conviction for rape and three sexual assaults. He was acquitted on three other counts. A warning this episode contains references to rape and sexual assault. Detective Inspector Laura Nelson tells Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty how office...

Russell Brand is remanded in custody after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted on three other counts. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty takes us inside Southwark Crown Court as the jury returns unanimous verdicts after eight and a half hours of deliberations. Brand is due to be sentenced on Monday. Follow Fame Under Fire: Russell Brand on Trial for...

Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The jury at Southwark Crown Court finds Brand guilty of the anal rape of one woman and three sexual assaults involving three other women. He is found not guilty on two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty reports the breaking verdicts from court, with a full episode exa...

How will the jury decide whether Russell Brand is guilty or not guilty? A warning this podcast contains references to alleged rape and sexual assault. The jury begins deliberations after receiving the judge's route to verdict. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty explains the questions jurors must consider on each of the seven charges, including consent, the different laws applying to the allegations and Br...

The defence delivers its closing speech in Russell Brand's trial. A warning this podcast contains strong language and detailed references to alleged rape and sexual assault. The defence argues that media coverage influenced the complainants' recollections, questions delays in reporting the allegations and challenges the prosecution's case. The defence asks the jury to find Brand not guilty Russell...

The prosecution delivers its closing speech in Russell Brand’s trial. A warning this podcast contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Prosecuting counsel asks everyone in court to sit in silence for 20 seconds, illustrating how long one complainant says she struggled as Brand allegedly tried to pull her into a toilet. The prosecution revisits the six complainants’ accounts...

Russell Brand's wife gives character evidence in his trial. A warning this podcast contains strong language and references to sexual activity. Laura Brand tells the jury about their relationship, describing her husband as caring, kind and attentive. During cross-examination, the prosecution questions her about their relationship and previous public statements. The jury also hears from a former gir...

“T was for tart.” A warning this podcast contains strong language and references to alleged rape, anal rape and sexual assault. Russell Brand gives evidence for the first time, telling the jury about his past sexual behaviour and responding to allegations from all six complainants. Brand tells the court that consent was “fundamental, essential, necessary”, and describes how he saved women's detail...

Russell Brand is found not guilty of indecent assault. A warning this podcast contains references to alleged rape and sexual assault. In a significant development, the judge rules that there is insufficient evidence to support a conviction on the original indecent assault charge, but the prosecution is permitted to amend the charge to attempted indecent assault. Brand has pleaded not guilty to the...

“Sleeping with people day and night.” A warning this podcast contains graphic descriptions of sex. The jury hears a statement from Russell Brand's former personal assistant describing his behaviour and attitude towards women and sex. She recalls women regularly visiting his home and Brand conducting work meetings in his underwear. She also describes the difficulties of working for him and says he...

Will Russell Brand take the witness stand? And what happens if he chooses not to? With no jury sitting today, Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty answers your questions about the trial. 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. Follow Fame Under Fire:...

“He really hurt me.” A warning this podcast contains strong language and graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. The jury hears from friends and family of Complainant Five, who describe what she told them following an alleged anal rape at Russell Brand's home. Witnesses recall her distress, concerns about her health and conversations about the events that night. The defence also q...

“You treated me like an animal.” A warning this podcast contains graphic descriptions of alleged anal rape. The jury hears about an alleged text exchange between Russell Brand and Complainant Five following an alleged rape at his home. During cross-examination, the defence questions her account of what happened, challenging her recollection of events and suggesting she consented to sexual activity...

“This man was mauling me” A warning this podcast contains strong language and graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Complainant Four tells the jury Russell Brand allegedly kissed and groped her while she was working. She becomes emotional during cross-examination, describing how nobody intervened and why she felt unable to report what happened. The jury also hears from Complaina...

“I felt like my innocence had been taken.” A warning this podcast contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Complainant three tells the jury Russell Brand sexually assaulted and raped her at a party in the early 2000s. She describes why she kept the full extent of the alleged attack secret from friends and family for years, and why she eventually reported it to police. Duri...

“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 t...

A warning this podcast contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. “It made me feel so dirty.” The first complainant gives emotional evidence about an alleged rape in 1999. The jury hears her video-recorded police interview before she faces cross-examination from Russell Brand's defence team. The judge also intervenes during a tense exchange with the defence barrister. Russel...

The prosecution has opened its case against Russell Brand at Southwark Crown Court, outlining allegations made by six women. A warning this podcast contains strong language and graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Russell Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. He denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to al...

The jury has been selected in Russell Brand's trial at Southwark Crown Court. Eight men and four women have been sworn in, along with a reserve juror. But why were six prospective jurors dismissed? Russell Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. He denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Anoushka Mutanda-Doughert...

It's day one of Russell Brand's trial at Southwark Crown Court, where jury selection is underway. Russell Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. He denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is inside the courtroom, bringing you the latest from the trial and explaining how the British jus...

Russell Brand’s trial begins at Southwark Crown Court on 12 October. He faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and denies the allegations against him. Before the trial begins, Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is joined by criminal defence lawyers Matthew Claughton and Stephen Davies to break down the char...

The Tupac murder trial is over. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and Fame Under Fire’s resident trial attorney Shaun Kent look back at the evidence, arguments, and courtroom moments that led to Duane "Keffe D" Davis being convicted of first-degree murder. For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial, Anoushka has been in the Las Vegas courtroom every day bringing you updates. We’ve got more trials coming...

Duane "Keffe D" Davis has been found guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon for the killing of Tupac Shakur, almost 30 years after the rapper was shot in Las Vegas. Jurors returned the verdict after nearly three hours of deliberations following closing arguments in which prosecutors pointed to Davis's own repeated accounts of the killing, while the defence argued there was no independe...