The comic and actor Russell Model appeared earlier than a London court docket on Friday on a number of costs of sexual assault, together with two counts of rape.
His 14-minute look on the court docket, Westminster Magistrates’, was the primary, largely procedural step in what are prone to be prolonged prison proceedings. It got here a month after British prosecutors charged Mr. Brand with one rely of rape, one in all oral rape, two counts of sexual assault and one other of indecent assault.
Because the transient listening to started, Mr. Model, 49, stood inside a plexiglass field within the courtroom, carrying a shirt opened to point out his chest and holding a pair of gold-rimmed sun shades. Mr. Model confirmed his identify, date of delivery and British deal with, then listened, with out exhibiting any seen emotion, to particulars of the fees.
Courtroom paperwork associated to Friday’s listening to confirmed that one of many sexual assault costs associated to a lady saying that Mr. Model had touched her breasts and that the indecent assault cost concerned a lady saying that Mr. Model had dragged her towards a male rest room.
Mr. Model has denied all the costs. In a video posted to his social media accounts in April, he mentioned that he had “by no means engaged in nonconsensual exercise” and that he seemed ahead to defending himself in court docket.
On the finish of the listening to, Paul Goldspring, the decide, granted Mr. Model bail after which mentioned that the actor was free to go. “Thanks,” Mr. Model mentioned and slowly walked out.
In Britain, the primary listening to in a prison trial is “largely administrative,” mentioned Stuart Nolan of the Regulation Society, a corporation representing British attorneys. It doesn’t contain the coming into of any pleas, Mr. Nolan added.
On Friday, Choose Goldspring referred the case onto the next court docket, known as a crown court docket, which offers with extra critical costs. Mr. Model’s first listening to at that court docket is scheduled for Could 30.
Any trial would possibly solely start “a 12 months from now” due to a backlog of circumstances in Britain’s judicial system, Mr. Nolan mentioned.
Mr. Model grew to become a star in Britain within the early 2000s with hit stand-up exhibits and appearances as a TV and radio host. Later, after the interval lined by the fees, he achieved fame in the US, too, when he starred in motion pictures together with “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008) and “Get Him to the Greek (2010). He was briefly married to the pop star Katy Perry.
Lately, Mr. Model grew to become recognized for conspiracy-minded YouTube movies. Virtually seven million customers subscribe to his channel, the place Mr. Model has posted clips about politics and information occasions such because the battle in Ukraine.
Below British legislation, information retailers can not determine anybody who makes sexual assault accusations except they select to waive their proper to anonymity. After costs have been filed, strict guidelines additionally forestall the reporting of any info that would prejudice a jury at trial.
