Judge Joel Bennathan’s comments at Russell Brand’s sentencing have drawn praise from legal and sexual violence advocates, who said courts and public debate must challenge stereotypes surrounding rape and assault.
The Guardian reported on Nov. 10 on reactions from the Criminal Bar Association, Rape Crisis England & Wales and the End Violence Against Women Coalition. Bennathan said a woman’s choices do not determine whether she can refuse sex or seek justice.
Andrew Thomas KC and Kama Melly KC, the association’s chair and vice-chair, said rape and sexual-assault myths should be challenged in courtrooms and in public culture. Deniz Uğur, deputy director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said those myths shaped the proceedings and wider discussion of the case. She said victim-blaming could affect the women involved and survivors beyond the case.
Ciara Bergman, chief executive of Rape Crisis England & Wales, separately called Bennathan’s remarks important and discussed claims made by the defense. Bennathan criticized Brand’s companions at a radio station and said his entourage had indulged his behavior during an assault at a television studio.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Monday that Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for one rape offense and three sexual assaults involving four women. The offenses took place between 2004 and 2009, according to prior EconoTimes coverage.
The trial lasted four weeks and considered seven charges brought by six women, NPR reported. Jurors found Brand guilty of the four offenses and acquitted him of two other rape charges and one attempted indecent assault charge. Brand pleaded not guilty to every charge and maintained that his sexual activity was consensual.
EconoTimes previously covered Brand’s sentencing and convictions.
