Alan Jones set to defend allegations in blockbuster trial
Alan Jones is set to defend indecent assault allegations at a blockbuster trial which was on Tuesday locked in by a court.
Alan Jones will defend allegations that he indecently assaulted and groped nine male complainants during a blockbuster, marathon court hearing in August next year.
Mr Jones, 84, was not present in the Sydney Downing Centre Local Court at John Maddison Tower on Tuesday and was represented by his high-profile solicitor Bryan Wrench as the stage was set for one of the biggest court battles of the decade.
The embattled former 2GB host is alleged to have indecently assaulted, groped and inappropriately touched nine alleged victims between 2003 and 2020 and has pleaded not guilty to 27 charges - 25 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching.
Mr Wrench previously entered not guilty pleas on his client’s behalf.
Magistrate Glenn Walsh told the court on Tuesday that the hearing would begin on August 3 next year and was scheduled to run until December.
According to court documents, it’s alleged his offending occurred in Sydney, Fitzroy Falls, Kiama, Mittagong, Tamworth and at Mr Jones’ work premises and home.
He is alleged to have rubbed one alleged victim on the leg at a performance at the Sydney Opera House.
He is further alleged to have touched the penis of one man, on the outside of his clothing, at the Gunners’ Barracks restaurant at Mosman.
Earlier this year, the court heard that the number of complainants had gone from 11 to nine.
There was no reason given in court why the charges relating to two complainants were no longer being prosecuted.
Mr Wrench told the court that to date he had only received one folder of evidence, which included a statement from journalist Kate McClymont, whose investigation triggered the prosecution.
He told the court Ms McClymont had refused to hand over her notes from the investigation, and he was told that he would need to subpoena her.
“We need to see all the cards,” Mr Wrench told the court.
The court was told that as it stood, there were 139 Crown witnesses. However, that number is expected to be reduced.
The court heard that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was seeking to have a conference with Mr Wrench and Mr Jones’ senior counsel.
However Crown prosecutor Emma Curran said they had not been informed who Mr Jones’ senior counsel would be at trial.
The court previously heard that the matters will be contested during a hearing in the Local Court, and will therefore be decided by a magistrate.
After he was charged last year, Mr Jones indicated that he wanted the matters decided by a jury and it was expected they would be heard in the District Court.
However the DPP has elected to run the prosecution in the Local Court.
Mr Wrench also told the court that he needed to be shown “the full cards” before he could tell the court which defence witnesses would be required.
He said Mr Jones had been “deprived” of a jury trial and he wanted to ensure he had a “fair hearing”.
“We believe there is an iceberg of exculpatory material,” Mr Wrench said.
Following his first court appearance last year, Mr Jones strongly denied the allegations.
“I have never indecently assaulted these people,” he said at the time.
“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.”
The matter will return to court next week to decide a date for pre-hearing legal arguments.
