Russell Brand trial begins at Southwark Crown Court on rape and sexual assault charges Russell Brand appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London for the start of his trial on rape and sexual assault charges involving six women and alleged offenses between 1999 and 2009. The 51-year-old comedian and actor has pleaded not guilty to all counts. Russell Brand appeared at Southwark Crown Court in Central London for the start of his trial on rape and sexual assault charges. The trial is slated to kick off Wednesday before a jury of eight men and four women who were selected on Monday and Tuesday. The prosecution is due to open its case later in the week. The 51-year-old comedian and actor has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The charges involve six women and alleged offenses that occurred between 1999 and 2009. Brand was initially hit with two counts of rape before additional charges were later added.Russell Brand Leaves Court With WifeBrand, who is on bail, left the court building beside the River Thames holding hands with his wife, Laura Gallacher. He had earlier arrived at court flanked by security guards and accompanied by Gallacher. The pair have been married for nine years and have three children who they are raising in Florida as Brand pivoted his career toward podcasting. The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday after a morning of jury selection.Prosecutors said at previous hearings that Brand is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room at a Labour Party conference. The alleged rape took place in a Bournemouth hotel room during the Labour Party conference. He is also accused of groping a television worker's breasts and forcing her to engage in a sex act with him in a bathroom, as well as kissing and grabbing a radio station worker.Brand Career Rose From Stand UpKnown for risque stand-up routines and battles with drugs and alcohol, Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s. He hosted television programs including the 2007 Brit Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards, and also had his own BBC radio show. He then made the leap to Hollywood, appearing in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and Rock of Ages.In recent years Brand has moved away from mainstream media, relocated to Florida and built a large online following with videos mixing wellness, conspiracy theories and discussions of his religious devotion. He now podcasts about topics including self-help, spirituality and political conspiracy theories. The trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks. The Associated Press does not name victims of alleged sexual violence, and British law protects their identities from the media for life.