Nine apologises after using Alan Joyce’s name when referring to Alan Jones trial
The network was forced to apologise on Wednesday after an embarrassing mistake.
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Channel 9 has been forced to apologise to former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce after wrongly using his name in a graphic that went to air during a segment about Alan Jones’ trial.
Broadcaster Alan Jones is accused of kissing a man and touching his penis with his own, police have alleged after laying fresh charges, with the veteran broadcaster vowing to fight “baseless” historical abuse allegations.
The 83-year-old former 2GB host fronted court for the first time on Wednesday, appearing before Judge Michael Allen at Downing Centre Local Court as his lawyer Bryan Wrench entered pleas of not guilty on his behalf.
During Nine News Sydney’s coverage of the trail, a caption with the name Alan Joyce was used.
“Earlier in our report on the allegations against Alan Jones, an incorrect name graphic was run and we apologise for that error,” newsreader Georgie Gardner said later in the bulletin.
Alan Joyce is an Irish-Australian businessman, and the former CEO of Qantas.
Mr Jones, who sat in the first row as his matter was mentioned, is facing 34 charges relating to 10 alleged victims, eight of which were laid by police on Tuesday.
As he left the courthouse, Mr Jones – a stalwart of Sydney radio and a political insider – unfolded a piece of paper and addressed the large media scrum and hecklers waiting for him outside.
“Firstly, let me say this: I am certainly not guilty and I will be presenting my account to a jury, as you heard this morning,” Mr Jones told the crowd as hecklers hurled abuse.
“I will not be engaging in a running commentary in the media, but I want you to understand this: These allegations are either baseless or distort the truth.”
He claimed prior to his arrest that he was given “no opportunity by police” to answer the allegations.
“I have never indecently assaulted these people,” he said.
“The law assumes I am not guilty, and I am not guilty.
“I am emphatic that I’ll be defending every charge before a jury in due course.”
As he entered and exited the court, Mr Jones was met with heckling from the public, many carrying placards referencing statements he had made about climate change and Lebanese Muslim Australians.
The former 2GB radio host had arrived by car outside the courthouse about 10.30am on Wednesday morning, only weeks after his arrest following a raid on his luxury Circular Quay apartment.
He was escorted by Mr Wrench and solicitor Chris Murphy, who fell as members of the media and the public swarmed the talkback host’s car.
Hecklers were heard asking Mr Jones “does the media love you now?” as he was slowly escorted into the building by Mr Murphy and Mr Wrench under the gaze of court sheriffs.
The court was told Mr Jones would face a jury trial at some point in the future and Mr Wrench told the court that his client welcomed the prospect of the matters being determined by a group of ordinary members of the public.
He also attacked what he described as “untruths” made by the police and published by the media, the court was told.
The court was told that Mr Jones’s bail was varied with the prosecution’s consent.
According to his bail conditions, Mr Jones was required to live at a Sydney address.
On Wednesday, his bail conditions were relaxed so that he is allowed to temporarily stay elsewhere, as long as he gives police at least 72 hours notice.
His matter will return to court on March 11 when a brief of evidence will be served on both the prosecution and Mr Jones’s defence.
“Mr Jones looks forward to clearing his name in this matter,” Mr Wrench said.
Mr Jones was facing 26 charges, including committing an aggravated indecent act and sexually touching a person without consent, in relation to nine complainants. It is alleged the incidents occurred between 2001 and 2019.
On Tuesday, he was hit with eight fresh charges of assault with an act of indecency, relating to a 10th alleged victim.
According to court documents seen by NewsWire, the eight new charges relate to allegations that Mr Jones indecently assaulted the complainant on eight occasions between 2003 and 2004 in Sydney, Mittagong and Fitzroy Falls.
It has been alleged that Mr Jones kissed the complainant on the mouth and squeezed and rubbed his penis.
On one occasion Jones is alleged to have touched the complainant’s penis with his penis, while also squeezing the complainant’s bottom and kissing him on the mouth, according to a court attendance notice filed with the court.
The 26 original allegations are alleged to have occurred at a range of locations in NSW, including Mr Jones’s former residence in Newtown, his luxury Circular Quay apartment, and a property at Fitzroy Falls in the Southern Highlands.
Several of those allegations relate to a person known as Complainant C, who officers will allege “was under the authority of the accused by reason of being directly employed” by Mr Jones.
The allegations brought on behalf of Complainant C include that Mr Jones touched the man’s knee, leg, and inner thigh, touched and rubbed his penis, and repeatedly kissed him on the lips.
Further allegations include that Mr Jones assaulted and sexually touched a man and squeezed another man’s bottom among other acts, which police allege took place between 2008 and 2019 in Sydney and Fitzroy Falls.
Mr Jones was arrested at his harbourside apartment on November 18.
Originally published as Nine apologises after using Alan Joyce’s name when referring to Alan Jones trial
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