Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
WARNING: Graphic content
A key witness has told a court he never saw Alan Jones grab another man under table at a Sydney restaurant and, during an at-times fiery testimony, denied commenting to the alleged victim that he “copped a feel”.
Mr Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching relating to six male complainants, including one man who can only be known as “Complainant C”.
C told the court during Mr Jones’ trial that the veteran broadcaster kissed him without his consent in the lifts at the ex-talkback host’s Circular Quay apartment building and the 2GB studios, and touched him on the penis on the outside of his clothing.
The man has alleged Mr Jones touched him under the table at a lunch at a Sydney north shore restaurant nearly 20 years ago in an incident witnessed by two people.
C said one of the men later remarked to him: “You copped a feel under the table, didn’t you?”
One man, who C has claimed was at the lunch, told the court on Tuesday that he did not recall attending the event.
During an at-times heated examination by Crown prosecutor Georgina Wright SC, he denied making a joke at C’s expense following the alleged incident.
He was asked if he saw Mr Jones “with his hand under the table” and appearing to be in C’s lap.
“You saw that didn’t you?” Ms Wright asked.
“No,” the man replied.
“I suggest you made eye contact with (Complainant C) when doing that?” Ms Wright asked.
“No,” the man said.
He also denied smirking at Complainant C during the alleged incident.
“After the meal was over, outside the restaurant, you made a joke to (Complainant C) that he copped a feel under the table, didn’t you?” Ms Wright asked.
“No,” the man said, adding he did not use “that sort of language”.
The man repeatedly denied tailoring his evidence to aid Mr Jones, who he said he considered a friend and repeatedly texted expressing his support when the allegations first surfaced in late 2023.
“I suggest to you that you are sticking to this version of not recalling anything at all to assist the defendant (Mr Jones) in this trial,” Ms Wright asked.
“I’m sticking to my statement because it is the truth,” the man said.
The court was told that in October 2023, the man texted Mr Jones to tell him journalist Kate McClymont was “sniffing around” and asking questions about him.
Ms McClymont first aired the allegations against Mr Jones in a story in December 2023.
The man told the court he had a “disdain” for Ms McClymont because of her previous reporting relating to high-profile barrister and former Crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen SC.
He referred to Ms McClymont as a “c..t”, a “low breed”, a “b…h”, “pure evil” and a “bottom feeder of the highest order” in text messages, the court was told.
He also referred to the allegations as a “bulls**t witch hunt” and said it was “because it did not happen”.
“I do not recall that lunch,” the man said.
“I have never seen Mr Jones do anything sexually inappropriate.”
The trial continues.
