Source : the age
Warning: Graphic content
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of day 12 of Alan Jones’ criminal trial on charges of indecent assault and sexual touching. My colleague Clare Sibthorpe will be bringing you the latest from the courtroom today.
The NSW Local Court in Sydney’s historic Downing Centre court building will hear further evidence today from complainant “C”, the second of six men who have accused the former 2GB host of unwanted touching and kissing over a 20-year period.
Jones denies the claims and is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Jones is charged with indecently assaulting “C” eight times over a five-month period by touching and kissing him without his consent. The alleged incidents are said to have taken place almost 20 years ago.
“C”, a former staffer to Jones, faces further cross-examination today by Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir, SC, after the questioning was cut short on Wednesday afternoon by legal argument.
The Crown alleges that Jones indecently assaulted or sexually touched six men without their consent between 2003 and 2020, and is seeking to prove 22 charges against him.
Bashir said during her opening address to the court that the credibility and reliability of the complainants’ evidence would be tested.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
Defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir, SC, has suggested that Ray Hadley “was in a position to benefit from any publication” of indecent assault allegations against Jones.
“C” said he did not agree with that.
Bashir referred to a conversation between “C” and Sydney Morning Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons in October 2019 in which “C” gave an anonymous account of his allegations against Jones.
The court has heard Hadley asked “C” if he would speak with FitzSimons, who was researching a story about Jones, after “C” discussed the allegations briefly with Hadley.
The court is hearing about a media campaign against Jones in September 2019 which targeted his advertisers.
Defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir, SC, asked “C” if he was aware of this campaign and whether Jones was under a lot of pressure at 2GB.
“Yes, it was a social media campaign, but it was because he said something stupid on air,” the man replied.
“C” agreed the groups behind the campaign included the Sleeping Giants and Mad F—ing Witches and said they took a lot of credit for the situation.
Judge Glenn Walsh has returned to the bench, telling defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir, SC: “You’ve just raised my blood pressure and wasted 10 minutes.”
A tense moment has erupted in court.
Judge Glenn Walsh and defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir, SC, were engaged in discussion about a legal issue when he grew visibly frustrated.
“I think I might take a five-minute break myself,” Walsh said sternly before walking off the bench.
It is common for the judge to suggest breaks for complainants, but rare for him to take one himself.
Bashir has asked “C” if Ray Hadley would regularly call Alan Jones a grub in early 2019, before “C” confided in Hadley about his allegations of indecent assault against Jones.
“C” said he did not recall Hadley calling Jones a grub at that time, but he may have.
Bashir then asked if he recalled telling prosecutors that Hadley would often tell him Jones was a grub.
“Yes, I do recall Ray talking about him like [saying] he was a grub, but I couldn’t be specific about when he said it,” the complainant responded.
He accepted that he knew a staff member of Hadley’s had commenced civil action against the 2GB heavyweight over bullying claims.
Today’s continued cross-examination of complainant “C” has started with a return to questioning about a rift between former 2GB hosts Alan Jones and Ray Hadley.
Defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir, SC, asked “C” if he knew that, by March 2019, there were frigid relations between the pair.
“Yes, I think by 2019, I don’t think Ray was a particular fan of Alan, but I don’t know why,” the man responded.
Bashir asked about the complainant’s knowledge of Hadley’s desire to take over Jones’ radio breakfast slot and his expressed intention to do so. “C” said he did not recall him telling him this.
We are approaching the end of week three of Alan Jones’ criminal trial, and there are many weeks ahead.
Six men, who were aged between their late teens and their 30s at the time of the alleged incidents between 2003 and 2020, are giving evidence in the NSW Local Court trial in Sydney. Here’s what to expect over the coming weeks.
Complainant “C”, who started giving evidence on Friday, remains in the witness box. Witnesses related to his allegations will be up next. Evidence related to the first complainant, “J”, a former young athlete, has been completed.
Four more men will give evidence after “C” and related witnesses. The Crown has foreshadowed they will give the following evidence. Jones vehemently denies the allegations.
- Complainant “F”, who was a 17-year-old working in media, is expected to allege that Jones squeezed his buttock through his clothing at a news event in Sydney. Prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC told the court that “F” told his mother that Jones “grabbed my bum” but he decided not to report it because he felt that nobody would believe his word over the broadcaster’s.
- Complainant “M”, an athlete, is expected to say that Jones sent him fresh flowers each week for a year after he visited Jones’ apartment and made a comment about the floral arrangements. He alleges Jones hugged and kissed him on the corner of the mouth for a second or two at a public event when he was in his early 30s.
- “M” will also allege that he went to Jones’ apartment some years later and Jones pushed his body against his and kissed him from the cheek to the corner of his mouth. He recalled feeling Jones’ genitals pressed up against his upper inner thigh. Wright foreshadowed that “M” would give evidence that he pushed Jones back and said “OK mate” before leaving the apartment.
- Complainant “A”, who was 17 at the time of the alleged offence, is expected to say that Jones put his tongue inside his mouth when he was visiting the broadcaster’s Fitzroy Falls property. Wright foreshadowed that “A” would say he froze and didn’t know what to do. He alleges that Jones also put his hand on his bottom. The mother of “A” is expected to give evidence that her son later wrote her a note that said something like “someone in power did something they should not have”.
- Complainant “H”, who was aged in his early 30s, will allege Jones met him at a fundraising event in Sydney and used his hand to touch the top of his back, sliding slowly down his spine and resting his hand on the top of his bottom.
Alan Jones arrived at the Downing Centre Local Court shortly before 10am, wearing a cream suit jacket over a white shirt, a purple and pink patterned tie, raisin-coloured suit pants and striped colourful socks.
Alan Jones’ criminal trial has exposed a deep rift between former 2GB heavyweights, days before ex-hosts Ray Hadley and Jason Morrison are expected to testify in the case.
Text messages in 2024 between Hadley and complainant “C”, one of Jones’ accusers, were aired in the trial on Wednesday.
In the messages, Hadley and “C” were critical of Morrison’s perceived allegiance to Jones following allegations made by “C”, reported by this masthead using a pseudonym for the complainant.
The text messages formed part of the cross-examination of “C” by Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir SC, over his claims the former broadcaster groped him at a lunch event on Sydney’s lower north shore almost 20 years ago.
Warning: Graphic content
Complainant “C”, the second of six men slated to give evidence in the trial, enters his fifth day of evidence today. He has alleged Jones touched and kissed him without his consent.
His cross-examination by defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir, SC, started on Monday afternoon and continues today.
“C” has given evidence he spoke to then-2GB host Ray Hadley about Jones, after he heard The Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter FitzSimons was looking into similar allegations against Jones.
