Prosecutors at Russell Brand's trial described him as a 'sexual predator' in opening statements.

What it means

This is a court-report headline from Russell Brand's criminal trial in the UK: during opening remarks, the prosecution described the comedian and actor to the jury as a 'sexual predator'. It reflects the prosecution's framing of the alleged pattern of behaviour across the sexual offence charges he faces, not a verdict — Brand denies the allegations and is presumed innocent unless the jury convicts.

Accuracy & sourcesSourced

Solid as a report of what was said in court: AFP is reputable secondary reporting, and the named primary source is the prosecutor's statement in open court. That makes the claim reliable about the prosecutor's words, but it carries no weight as evidence of guilt, and the trial is ongoing.

How new

Genuinely new: this is a live development in an ongoing criminal trial, not resurfaced material.

Go deeper

• The Australian (via Google News) — first to publish