Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Alan Jones will front a Sydney court this week for the start of a blockbuster trial during which he will battle sexual touching and indecent assault allegations, with his first alleged victim to give evidence as early as Monday.
Mr Jones, 85, will appear at the Downing Centre Local Court for what is scheduled to be day one of his trial which is expected to last for months.
The veteran broadcaster has long maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching relating to six alleged victims, all of whom are younger men.
Many of the allegations are historical in nature and they are alleged to have happened between 2003 and 2020.
According to the charges, Mr Jones is alleged to have kissed some complainants and touched others on their penis and buttocks.
The charges relate to alleged incidents at his Circular Quay apartment, his Fitzroy Falls farm, at his work premises, the Gunners Barracks restaurant at Mosman and at social functions across Sydney.
The court has previously heard that the Crown prosecution will rely on “tendency” and “coincidence” evidence during the trial.
The Crown will argue, the court has been told, that Mr Jones had a tendency to have a sexual interest in younger men and to sexually touch them in professional and social settings.
According to one of the allegations, Mr Jones is alleged to have squeezed the buttocks of one of the alleged victims at a social event.
Mr Jones is further alleged to have placed his hand on the back and bottom of another alleged victim at an event.
The first witness to give evidence will be one of the alleged victims who can only be known as “Complainant J”.
The court has heard that their evidence will be given as early as Monday, following opening statements from the defence and crown.
Mr Jones has been charged with indecently assaulting “Complainant J” on nine occasions between 2003 and 2004.
It has been alleged by the prosecution that Mr Jones kissed him at his home and at his Fitzroy Falls farm.
He is also alleged to have touched the man on the penis while they were driving and at Mr Jones’ Fitzroy Falls residence.
The hearing will be overseen by Judge Glenn Walsh and could potentially run for several months.
Police launched Strike Force Bonnefin and began investigating Mr Jones in March 2024.
Mr Jones was arrested at his Circular Quay apartment on November 18, 2024.
Monday’s hearing will mark the first time that Mr Jones has faced court since his first appearance in December 2024.
“These allegations are either baseless or distort the truth,” he said outside the Downing Centre Court at the time.
“I have never indecently assaulted these people.
“The law assumes I am not guilty, and I am not guilty.
“I am emphatic that I’ll be defending every charge.”
The court has been told that 76 witnesses are expected to give evidence during the trial, and that “oodles” of character witnesses will be called by Mr Jones’ defence.
At one point, Mr Jones was facing 44 charges relating to 11 alleged victims.
Prosecutors have over the last year withdrawn 22 charges against Mr Jones and five complainants have dropped out of the proceedings.
In September last year, the Director of Public Prosecutions elected to proceed with the charges summarily in the Local Court instead of the District Court.
It meant that the case would be decided by a judge instead of a jury.
