Alan Jones trial live updates: Complainant ‘C’ set to give evidence as indecent assault, sexual touching trial continues

Warning: Graphic content

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of day eight of Alan Jones’ lengthy criminal trial on charges of indecent assault and sexual touching. My colleagues Clare Sibthorpe and Harriet Alexander will be bringing you the latest from the courtroom today.

The NSW Local Court in Sydney’s historic Downing Centre court building will hear 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.

In the first week of the trial, the court heard allegations that Jones indecently assaulted “J”, a young athlete, starting with unwanted kissing and progressing to touching. On the Crown’s case, “J” was aged between 17 and 21 at the time of the nine alleged indecent assaults.

The defence case is that the alleged incidents didn’t happen.

This week, the older brother of “J” and the complainant’s ex-girlfriend gave evidence about what they said he told them about the alleged assaults, and his mother and his former coach gave evidence yesterday.

His mother testified that “J” initially told him that Jones had not touched him, before telling her the following year that he had lied. She said that she was in shock when “J” made the disclosure, and she told her son she should have protected him.

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.

Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir, SC, 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.

Alan Jones has arrived at court wearing a rust-coloured jacket, beige pants and a light blue tie.

His solicitor Bryan Wrench alighted first from the car, followed very slowly by Jones, who walks with the aid of a walking stick. Also in the vehicle was his senior legal advisor Chris Murphy.

A former athlete known as “J” was the first complainant to give evidence in the trial.

This week, the Crown amended seven charges relating to “J” to extend the date range for the charges. It did so in response to evidence given by “J” and his ex-girlfriend.

The new dates span a period when “J” was aged between 17 and 21. Previously, the dates corresponded with “J” being aged between 17 and 19. Regardless of the date, Jones denies the alleged offences occurred.

The court heard evidence that Jones gave “J” a mobile phone shortly after his 18th birthday and a car when he was about 19. That timeline appeared to conflict with earlier evidence given by “J”, which suggested he received those gifts when he was younger.

“J” accepted under cross-examination his recollection may have been wrong, based on documentary evidence, and said he was doing his best to recall the dates.

Warning: Graphic content

Alan Jones is accused of 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent. He has denied the allegations and the Crown must prove the offences beyond reasonable doubt.

Six men, who were between their late teens and their 30s at the time of the alleged incidents between 2003 and 2020, will give evidence in the NSW Local Court trial in Sydney.

We have now heard from complainant “J” and complainant “C” will begin his testimony today.

During her opening address to the court last week, prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC, outlined some of the allegations expected to be made by the other four men.

• 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. Wright 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.