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 her 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.
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