Russell Brand's rape and sexual assault trial entered its fourth day at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, with a second accuser testifying from behind a privacy screen that the comedian "turned into this wild-eyed maniac" during an alleged 2001 incident at MTV's London offices.

The woman, who was in her 30s and working for the network at the time, told jurors she was showing Brand to the restrooms when his demeanor suddenly shifted. According to her testimony, he gripped her forearm and told her, "Come on, come in with me," before she wrenched herself free and demanded, "Are you mad? Let me go." She did not report the alleged incident at the time, telling the court she came forward only after watching a 2023 Channel 4 documentary that first surfaced allegations against Brand.

Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, brought by six women over alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009. The case is expected to run about six weeks. On his way into court Friday, Brand told reporters he was "praying for everybody involved" and described the trial as "an exploration of truth and justice."

Defense Calls It Consensual

Brand's barrister, Ian Winter KC, suggested during cross-examination that the actor had intended a "consensual" encounter rather than an assault — a characterization the witness rejected, asking why anyone would need to pull a person into a bathroom unless they meant to do something unwanted. She also grew tearful when pressed on whether she had "fallen under his spell."

"I did not fall under the spell, and I did not find him attractive."

She is the second woman to testify this week. On Thursday, the trial's first complainant told jurors Brand allegedly raped her in a Bournemouth hotel room in 1999 after a Labour Party conference, describing his demeanor turning "monster-like" after she returned from the bathroom. Jurors were shown photographs of a topless Brand that she said he instructed her to take that night. Under cross-examination, she too rejected suggestions she had welcomed his attention, telling the court, "I welcomed his company, not what followed."

The trial opened Wednesday with prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC telling jurors Brand was "ruthless, calculating and manipulative," and that the case would show he treated women "as a means to an end." Karmy-Jones told the court that none of the six complainants knew each other and that most did not come forward until after a 2023 television investigation into Brand's conduct. Brand denies all the charges and has told police he never engaged in nonconsensual activity; his defense maintains any sexual contact was consensual.

The trial continues next week, with jurors expected to hear from additional complainants as the prosecution's case proceeds.