Judge orders Russell Brand not guilty of indecent assault
The actor has not been fully exonerated, as one of the charges was downgraded and six other charges remain.
Photo: James Manning/Associated Press
TMZ is reporting that Russell Brand has been found not guilty of one charge in his sexual assault trial. The tabloid says that Judge Joel Bennathan, the presiding judge at London’s Southwark Crown Court, ordered jurors to find the actor not guilty of an “indecent assault” allegation, citing “insufficient evidence.” That specific charge has been downgraded to “attempted indecent assault.” “In respect of count two, I have reached the decision there is insufficient evidence of indecent assault,” the judge reportedly said on Tuesday. “That is my decision, not yours. You will be directed to return a not guilty verdict in count two.”