Russell Brand charged with rape today.

Abhorrent behaviour towards women ! guilty as charged

I for one am not saying that, and I really doubt Iam64 is either. I am saying his behaviour has been unpleasant and it was facilitated by various organisations.

And every woman he slept with was forced into bed ? no

Anniebach no one is suggesting “every woman he slept with was forced into bed”
I don’t know the detailed charges. I know enough to be clear he behaved in a predatory way, demeaning to others / women
Surely you don’t defend exposing himself to women

I am not defending him but I do not believe he stands much chance of a fair trial

Why not? Sadly I believe he’s more chance of fair treatment than the alleged victims

Iam64

Why not? Sadly I believe he’s more chance of fair treatment than the alleged victims

Because there's too many people that know about the allegations from the alleged victims. Too much speculation.

I’ve more faith that the jury can focus on the evidence presented, rather than unsubstantiated news reports 🌞

The deep choking stuff is gross, always has been
I think he’s a similar age to me and I was petrified of men like him when I was younger and single

Of course he will have a fair trial.

He will appear in court infront of a judge with a jury of 12. the judge will instruct the jury on their responsibilities to reach a decision only on the evidence presented in court. He will undoubtedly have a top knotch KC leading his defence.

This is standard British procedure and he will not be the first man with a notorious reputation to stand trial.

The jury will dismiss all they have heard and read ? no

Oh, for heavens sake, *Anniebach, of course they will. Have you ever served on a jury?

They won't be able to 'not hear or unread' the stuff they've heard or read, but having served on juries and one very well known local case, I can say they should (and we did) only consider the evidence that is presented during the trial. One jury I was on 'thought' the defendant guilty but the evidence just wasn't there so we acquitted. The judge will summarise the evidence presented both for and against and the jurors do to take an oath to reach a decision based solely on the evidence presented. Have a bit more faith in your fellows.

cross posted M0nica

I don’t claim to know what 12 people will think, I believe prejudices are not easily wiped from minds

People take their jury responsibilities seriously. They’re told only to consider the evidence before the Court. In cases involving sexual abuse, the Judge advises if there is no corroborative independent evidence conviction won’t wash. This makes convictions very difficult, as the latest figures confirm

I wouldn’t attempt to claim I know what every jury member thinks after instruction from the judge .

Anniebach

I wouldn’t attempt to claim I know what every jury member thinks after instruction from the judge .

Anniebach are you sceptical about all jury trials, do you think we should move to a different system? Everyone has their own biases it's true, but we are capable of recognising that and should be able to dissociate ourselves where necessary. Not all bias is negative, there are posters who have expressed their liking for Russell Brand, would they be pre-disposed to disbelieve the charges?

Rosie51 not all juries are deciding the guilt or innocence of people in social media and the press . Surely you are not saying
all verdicts brought by juries have been right

Anniebach

Rosie51 not all juries are deciding the guilt or innocence of people in social media and the press . Surely you are not saying
all verdicts brought by juries have been right

Well legally all jury verdicts are 'right', but I take your point that some probably aren't the correct decision, people are acquitted or convicted when in reality the verdict should have been the reverse. I do think more people will be wrongly acquitted, especially in sexual offences, than wrongly convicted. It is notoriously hard to get convictions for sexual offences which is why the CPS prosecutes such a paltry proportion of cases.

If you abandon jury trials, or indeed any trials, of anyone written or spoken about in social media because of a fear of bias then there will be an awful lot of injustice for victims.

Russell Brand has 6.7 million subscribers to his online forum. If any of those were on the jury would you trust them to try him fairly according to the evidence?

I don’t know but I doubt all

I’ve just read an article in the Independent suggesting Brand is becoming popular with fans of Andrew Tate as a result of the accusations

Iam64

I’ve just read an article in the Independent suggesting Brand is becoming popular with fans of Andrew Tate as a result of the accusations

Two of a kind.

Precisely MOnica