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A former athlete who has accused Alan Jones of kissing him non-consensually has told the broadcaster’s criminal trial he cannot get one of the alleged kisses “out of my memory”.
Complainant “M” was cross-examined for a second day on Thursday in Jones’ indecent assault and sexual touching trial in the Downing Centre Local Court.
He has alleged Jones kissed him non-consensually on the corner of his mouth at an event in Sydney about a decade ago, and repeatedly on the cheek, moving towards his mouth, on a second occasion years later at the broadcaster’s Circular Quay apartment. Jones denies the allegations.
“M” has told the court he could feel Jones’ genitals on his leg during the second alleged incident. He testified that he pushed the broadcaster away and said, “OK, mate”, in a tone intended to convey “get away from me”, and left “as quickly as possible”.
During his cross-examination on Thursday, Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir, SC, suggested variations in the complainant’s accounts to police meant the kiss at the Sydney function “did not happen”.
“The kiss did happen,” the complainant said. “I know the kiss happened because I can’t get it out of my memory.
“What I may not be able to give is who was sitting at my table [and] at which direction something may have happened. Those things I may not recall.”
Bashir questioned “M” about his interactions with Jones over a number of years, including a text message that contained a shirtless photo of the complainant.
“M” said he had just had a photo taken of himself in Paris when Jones had asked how he was doing.
‘Unfortunately for me, I’ve had to replay this moment in my head.’
Complainant “M”
He said he thought he looked good in that photo, so he sent it with the reply: “This well haha.”
The court heard Jones responded: “I love the photo. I love you. I want to kiss you for hours. That is beautiful. We must catch up xxxxxx.”
“M” did not immediately reply to that message, and Jones followed up with a message saying he hoped his earlier text did not upset him. “M” responded: “Not at all mate, it’s nice to be loved.”
“M” has told the court that he had hoped the use of the word “mate” would convey that their relationship was platonic.
The complainant initially told Bashir he did not recall seeing Jones between the event in Sydney and the last time he saw the former broadcaster, when he alleges he was kissed non-consensually for a second time.
However, after being shown text messages, he agreed he had. “This is a long time ago and as more information comes through, I realise that I had seen him,” he said.
Bashir put to “M” that a date on which he has alleged Jones kissed him for the second time, at his Sydney apartment, coincided with a period when the 2GB host was isolating at his Fitzroy Falls farm during the COVID-19 pandemic. The complainant said he did not know whether this was the case.
“I suggest there was no meeting between you and Alan Jones on the evening [of the alleged kiss],” Bashir said.
“I believe there was,” “M” responded.
“He did not kiss you on [that date],” Bashir said.
The man replied: “That’s not correct.”
Bashir suggested that he did not know when he saw Jones at his Circular Quay apartment.
“I’m not 100 per cent certain of the date,” “M” said.
He had referred in his evidence to a second potential date for the alleged kiss. However, “M” said it was unlikely to be correct because he had caught a flight that day.
The complainant has alleged Jones kissed him repeatedly on the cheek, towards his lips, and said words to the effect of, “I love you so much, you don’t know how much I love you.”
Bashir took him to his police statements and asked if the first time he had said anything about Jones speaking in between kisses was in court. He said that may be the case.
However, he rejected Bashir’s suggestion that the kissing never happened.
“Unfortunately for me, I’ve had to replay this moment in my head of what happened, and I recall what happened very specifically.”
Jones, 85, is standing trial on 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent relating to six male complainants over a 17-year period from 2003 to 2020.
The former 2GB broadcaster denies any of the physical acts alleged by the complainants occurred. Of the 22 charges in the trial, one count each of indecent assault and sexual touching relate to “M”.
The trial continues.
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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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