Russell Brand trial: former assistant's statement read to jury as prosecution case nears end
In the third week of Russell Brand's rape and sexual assault trial at Southwark Crown Court, a former personal assistant's witness statement describing his behaviour in the 2000s was read to the jury. The prosecution case is nearly finished and the defence is due to begin on Tuesday.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2A witness statement from Russell Brand's former personal assistant was read to the jury at Southwark Crown Court on Monday 26 October, in the third week of his trial for rape and sexual assault. DeadlineN “as the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star’s rape and sexual assault trial enters its third week.” Read at Deadline ↗ Evening StandardN “She said in a statement read to Southwark Crown Court on Monday” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2Brand faces three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault, based on allegations made by six women; he denies all charges and has pleaded not guilty. DeadlineN “Brand faces three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault based on allegations made by six women.” Read at Deadline ↗ Evening StandardN “Brand is accused of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The Evening Standard names the assistant as Helen Berger, who worked with Brand from June 2006 to February 2007 through his agent, John Noel, and often went to his flat in Camden, north London. Evening StandardN “Helen Berger worked closely with Brand from June 2006 to February 2007”“she worked for Brand through his agent, John Noel, and would often be called on to go to the comedian’s flat in Camden, north London.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 2In the statement she said Brand had an "insane sexual appetite", was like a "peacock" whom women approached, and "never seemed happy after sex, more so depressed". DeadlineN ““He was like a peacock, women always approached him.”” Read at Deadline ↗ Evening StandardN ““He never seemed happy after sex, more so depressed”, she observed.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2She said she had worked with celebrities before and seen people normalising bad behaviour, but that this was "on another level", and that the normalising of Brand's behaviour made her think "this is just the way it is here". DeadlineN “this was on another level.” Read at Deadline ↗ Evening StandardN ““Though I’ve worked with a lot of celebrities before and seen a lot of people normalising bad behaviour, this was on another level.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The Evening Standard reports she said she saw Brand "treat women poorly", that he used MySpace to find women, and that she once refused to keep getting female fans' phone numbers for him after feeling uncomfortable. Evening StandardN “Ms Burger said she saw him “treat women poorly””“Brand used MySpace to find women for sex”“she “felt uncomfortable” and, after seeking advice, she told Brand that she would not do that anymore.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1Deadline reports she also said she never witnessed Brand doing anything against the law, and that nobody disclosed anything like that to her. DeadlineN ““never witnessed Russell Brand doing anything against the law or didn’t have anyone disclose anything like that.”” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 2She said she left after about nine months because she was "sick of him and feeling burned out". Evening StandardN “she quit the job after nine months when she was “sick of him and feeling burned out”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ DeadlineN “she was “sick of him and feeling burnt out.”” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Deadline adds that earlier statements read to the jury came from people linked to three of the accusers, including a Channel 4 colleague of one complainant, who described being told Brand's associates "watched and laughed" during an alleged assault in 2009, and a sister of another alleged victim. DeadlineN “Earlier, witness statements were read to the jury from people associated with a trio of Brand’s accusers.”“Brand’s associates “watched and laughed” while the alleged assault was taking place.” Read at Deadline ↗
Centre · 2Mr Justice Bennathan told jurors the prosecution case has nearly finished and the defence case will begin on Tuesday lunchtime; Deadline says Brand is expected to give evidence. Evening StandardN “Mr Justice Bennathan told jurors on Monday morning that the prosecution case has nearly finished, and they will start to hear the defence case on Tuesday lunchtime.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ DeadlineN “with Brand’s defense expected to begin tomorrow and the actor expected to take the stand.” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the assistant's statement as the latest prosecution evidence, leading on her description of Brand's sexual behaviour and mood; Deadline's headline quotes "Never Seemed Happy After Sex", the Standard's quotes that he "treated women poorly".
- Emphasis
- Deadline places the statement within wider trial evidence from witnesses linked to accusers and notes her remark that she never saw anything illegal; the Standard gives more detail on her job, dates and anecdotes (Sadie Frost interview, MySpace).
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Standard does not mention her statement that she never witnessed anything unlawful or the earlier witness statements; Deadline omits her name, dates of employment and the 'treated women poorly' remark.
- Charged language
- “insane sexual appetite”“peacock”“normalising bad behaviour”
- For example
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“Deadline has been reporting daily from a live video feed of the courtroom since the trial began.” — Deadline
“Ms Berger said Brand once conducted an interview with actress Sadie Frost while dressed only in his pants and an open robe.” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The statement of Brand's former assistant was read at Southwark Crown Court on Monday 26 October.
- Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.
- The assistant described an 'insane sexual appetite' and said he 'never seemed happy after sex, more so depressed'.
- The defence case is due to start on Tuesday.
Where accounts differ
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Spelling of the assistant's surname
- Centre
- The Evening Standard uses both 'Berger' and 'Burger' in its report; Deadline does not name her.
Russell Brand person
Brand denies all charges and has pleaded not guilty; his defence is due to begin Tuesday, when he is expected to testify.
“he denies all charges and has pleaded not guilty.” — Deadline
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Russell Brand’s Former Assistant Claims Comedian “Never Seemed Happy After Sex”
Neutral Trial report with content warning, centred on the assistant's quoted remarks and wider witness evidence, noting her statement that she saw nothing illegal.
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Russell Brand ‘treated women poorly’, says former personal assistant
Neutral Court report focused on the assistant's account of Brand mistreating women and 'normalising' of his behaviour, with detailed anecdotes and trial timetable.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 26 Oct 12:35 First DeadlineN Russell Brand’s Former Assistant Claims Comedian “Never Seemed Happy After Sex”
- 26 Oct 12:53 +18m Evening StandardN Russell Brand ‘treated women poorly’, says former personal assistant
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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