Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
WARNING: Graphic content
Ray Hadley has denied lying to a court about his meeting with a man who has accused Alan Jones of repeatedly indecently assaulting him.
Mr Jones is standing trial in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court where Mr Hadley, his former 2GB stablemate and fellow talkback giant, has appeared as a star witness.
Mr Jones has denied the allegations made by six male complainants and pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching.
One man, who can only be known as “Complainant C” has alleged that Mr Jones touched his penis, over his clothing, while driving and at a Sydney restaurant and kissed him inside of lifts on several occasions.
The court has been told that C confided in Mr Hadley in October 2019, with the ex-radio host telling the court that the man told him: “He put his hand on my c..k and kissed me”.
After three days in the stand, Mr Hadley’s evidence finished on Thursday.
In the last of his cross-examination, Mr Hadley rejected an assertion by Mr Jones’ defence that he had lied during his evidence about his meeting with C.
“I reject that entirely,” Mr Hadley replied.
He was asked whether he harboured animosity towards Mr Jones in October 2019.
“I’d been targeted by Jones when he found out I’d signed a contract to take his position,” Mr Hadley told the court.
The court has previously been told that Mr Hadley signed a “secret” $4 million contract to take over the 2GB breakfast slot.
However, when the station was sold to Nine, it was decided that Mr Jones would stay on.
Mr Hadley told the court Nine agreed to honour the value of his contract, which doubled his salary.
Mr Hadley told the court that he and Mr Jones had a “complicated” relationship throughout their 30-plus year working history.
And Mr Hadley also sent warm messages to Mr Jones in late 2019 and mid 2020, the court was told.
Mr Hadley told the court that Mr Jones sent similar messages to he and his wife and “courtesy dedicated” that he reply in kind.
“Our relationship was very complicated, we went from being very close to very distant,” Mr Hadley told the court.
He further told the court that he owed “a lot” of his success to Mr Jones, who for most of his career hosted the 2GB breakfast show which led into his morning show.
“I’m appreciative of what he did for me,” Mr Hadley said.
