Russell Brand appears in a London court for trial on rape and sexual assault charges

LONDON (AP) – British comedian and actor Russell Brand appeared in a London court on Monday for the start of his trial on rape and sexual assault charges.

Key points

• The hearing at Southwark Crown Court was adjourned until Tuesday after a morning of jury selection.
• Brand, who is on bail, left the court building beside the River Thames holding hands with his wife, Laura Gallacher.
• Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.

Meanwhile, the hearing at Southwark Crown Court was adjourned until Tuesday after a morning of jury selection. The prosecution is due to open its case afterwards in the week.

Brand, 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 his wife.

Brand, 51, 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 between 1999 and 2009. The trial is projected to last up to 10 weeks.

Prosecutors remarked at previous hearings that Brand is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room at a Labour Party conference, grabbing a TV worker's breasts and forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, and kissing and groping a radio station worker.

Taken together, the developments around russell Brand appears in a London court for trial on rape and point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.