Russell Brand fears US prosecution over sexual assault claims | EUROtoday

Russell Brand fears he may face a prosecution within the US over sexual assault allegations, as his authorized crew try and delay a civil lawsuit filed in opposition to him in New York.

Court paperwork present that the comic’s legal professionals raised considerations that the case may “overlap” with the UK’s felony investigation, and that it may result in both case being prejudiced.

Last week, the Metropolitan Police charged the 49-year-old with one depend of rape, indecent assault and oral rape in addition to two counts of sexual assault, following an investigation by The Times and Channel 4.

The expenses relate to historic intercourse offences in opposition to 4 completely different ladies between 1999 and 2005, that are alleged to have occurred in Bournemouth and London.

The actor, who had beforehand labored as a BBC presenter, additionally faces a separate lawsuit within the US after a lady claimed he sexually assaulted her whereas she labored as an additional on the set of the comedy movie Arthur in 2010.

She filed a civil declare in opposition to him, Warner Bros and different corporations concerned within the manufacturing in November 2023, claiming that he uncovered his genitalia to her and adopted her to a rest room whereas intoxicated on set and assaulted her.

Brand has denied the allegations, describing them as “false and salacious”.

While the comic will not be going through felony expenses within the US, his legal professionals argued in courtroom paperwork that he had a “reasonable belief that criminal prosecution is possible in the United States”.

In one doc dated 1 April, his authorized crew mentioned: “The fact that Mr Brand is already facing a criminal investigation in the United Kingdom – coupled with highly publicised allegations that have been made … that Mr Brand committed similar sexual assaults in the United States – is more than sufficient to support a ‘reasonable belief’ that he could face prosecution here.”

They additionally careworn that the civil case needs to be delayed to safeguard his rights in opposition to self-incrimination, including: “Mr Brand’s alleged assaults in the United Kingdom could potentially be admitted as evidence of other assaults in the United States if he were to be criminally charged here.”

While the request to delay the civil case has been rejected, he has been granted an extension till 30 October 2025 to submit his deposition.

In his preliminary response to the lawsuit, Brand denied the allegation and claimed to have been sober for “approximately eight years” on the time of the alleged incident.

Warner Bros, who’ve been accused of negligence, have additionally denied the allegations in opposition to them.

After being charged by Scotland Yard following a year-and-a-half lengthy investigation, Brand is predicted to look earlier than Westminster magistrates’ courtroom within the UK on 2 May.

Brand is charged with the rape of a lady in 1999 within the Bournemouth space and the oral rape and sexual assault of a lady in 2004 within the Westminster space of London.

He has additionally been charged with indecently assaulting a lady in 2001 and sexually assaulting one other girl between 2004 and 2005 – each offences are alleged to have taken place in Westminster, London.

In a video posted on X on April 4, the actor mentioned he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity”.

“I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes,” he mentioned. “Of course I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”