United Kingdom, Feb. 24 -- Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault.

The 50-year-old comedian/actor appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Tuesday (24.02.26) and spoke to confirm his name and enter a not guilty plea to the two charges stemming from alleged offences said to have taken place in the UK capital in 2009. The charges relate to two women.

Brand was previously charged with two counts of rape, one of indecent assault and two of sexual assault - relating to four different women in alleged incidents said to have taken place between 1999 and 2005 - and he pleaded not guilty to those charges in May.

A trial for the original charges has been set for June and a hearing will now decide whether...