Russell Brand's brief marriage to Katy Perry was excluded from the prosecution's opening statement at his rape trial following an objection from his legal team, according to reports. Page Six, citing The Telegraph, reported that prosecutors had intended to reference the relationship during pre-trial proceedings.
Brand's lawyers successfully argued that details of the couple's relationship had no bearing on the current allegations. Reports did not specify which judge issued the ruling or provide the exact wording of the decision.
Mentions of Brand's religious practices and his history of substance abuse were also barred from the proceedings. Brand, 51, and Perry, 42, began dating in 2009 and married in India in 2010.
Their marriage lasted 14 months. One accuser alleged an incident occurred in July 2012, five months after their divorce was finalized.
On Thursday, a jury found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
Brand has denied all allegations, maintaining that his sexual encounters were consensual. Mr. Justice Joel Bennathan informed the court that Brand would receive a "significant" prison sentence.
Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, 9 November.