Laura Gallacher testifies as Russell Brand faces seven charges

By Marcus Bennett

Russell Brand faces seven charges involving six women at his London rape and sexual assault trial, Sky News reported. His wife, Laura Gallacher, testified for him on Thursday.

According to Sky News, Brand, a former actor and comedian, pleaded not guilty to all seven charges. They comprise three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault. The six female plaintiffs have automatic lifelong anonymity according to UK law. The case concerns alleged offences between 1999 and 2009.

Gallacher takes the stand

Gallacher appeared as a character witness. Her evidence followed Brand’s Wednesday testimony, when he said no one with relevant evidence about the alleged incidents had agreed to testify for his behalf.

“My entire life has been consumed by these allegations,” Brand said. “I have devoted myself to these matters.”

Asked by defence lawyer Ian Winter KC about their marriage, Gallacher called Brand “caring and kind,” an “amazing husband” and a “wonderful father.” She has been beside Brand on nearly every day of the trial so far.

“I feel very seen by him,” she said, via Sky News. “We have a very honest, frank and clear relationship and marriage… our relationship has always been [about] honesty.”

On Wednesday, the defence and prosecution questioned Brand about each alleged offence. He denied the claims and told the jury: “I’m innocent.” He also acknowledged that some past behaviour was “wrong in retrospect.”

“As I became more successful and famous I was very comfortable allowing that to facilitate sexual access, which I agree with you was wrong,” he said.

“I do recognize I have been a very determined and focused man … With women — of course, which is the subject of my trial — I’ve been persuasive, seductive, begging and flirting, and dedicated a lot of my life to what seems now beyond reckless, philandering and idiocy.”

His testimony combined a denial of guilt with an acknowledgement of conduct he now considered wrong. He did not retract his not-guilty plea.

Gallacher’s account of their relationship

Gallacher met Brand at his “highly explicit” comedy show in 2006, according to Sky News. She was 19 and he was 31. They began dating and told each other they loved each other.

She said it was “difficult for him to be monogamous.” They split in 2007. Brand later married pop star Katy Perry in a marriage that lasted from 2010 to 2012, while Gallacher said she “had not seen him during the marriage.”

The pair reconnected in 2014. They married in 2017 and share three children. Gallacher’s account spans their separation, Brand’s marriage to Perry, their reunion and family life.

What does Gallacher’s testimony change?

It puts Brand’s character before the jury through a spouse who has known him since 2006, adding a personal dimension to his denial of the charges and his qualified acknowledgement about his past. The testimony Sky News reported focused on their relationship and family, not the alleged incidents.

For jurors, the practical change is evidentiary: they now have a spouse’s account of Brand’s character to consider beside his denial and qualified admission.

Sky News reported that jurors are expected to begin deliberating a verdict as soon as Tuesday. Gallacher’s evidence will be weighed alongside Brand’s denial of all seven charges and his acknowledgement of conduct he now considers wrong.