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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of day seven of Alan Jones’ lengthy criminal trial on charges of indecent assault and sexual touching. Court reporter Clare Sibthorpe and I will be bringing you the latest from the hearing today.
If day seven looks familiar, you’re right. Yesterday was to be the seventh day of the trial, but the Crown foreshadowed that it wanted to amend seven of the charges in the case. This triggered an adjournment for the parties to make legal arguments.
After hearing those arguments, Judge Glenn Walsh said the Crown did not require the court’s permission to make the changes, which do not relate to the alleged physical acts in the case. He concluded that it did not result in prejudice to Jones and his right to a fair trial.
The trial is expected to resume in earnest today in the NSW Local Court in Sydney’s historic Downing Centre building with more evidence relating to complainant “J”, the first witness to give evidence in the trial.
In the first week of the trial, the court heard allegations that Jones indecently assaulted “J”, a young athlete, starting with unwanted kissing when the man was a teenager in year 12. Jones denies the claims.
On Tuesday, the older brother of “J” and the complainant’s ex-girlfriend gave evidence about what they say he told them about the alleged assaults.
His brother said he had not witnessed Jones acting inappropriately towards “J”, but that the complainant told him in 2024, after Jones’ arrest, that he was one the men who had come forward.
The ex-girlfriend of “J” said he confided in her 20 years ago that Jones had touched him inappropriately. She said he looked like he had “seen a ghost” before he made the disclosure and swore her to secrecy.
Her evidence continues today. The mother of “J” and his former sporting coach are also slated to give evidence.
While we don’t expect to hear from him today, a man known as “C” will be the next complainant to give evidence. He may start his evidence as early as Friday.
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.
The former broadcaster has emphatically denied wrongdoing and his 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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