Prosecutors in the Alan Jones trial will argue that the veteran broadcaster showed a pattern of targeting 'significantly younger men' in his professional and social circle, the New South Wales local court has heard in pre-trial evidence now made public.
Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of indecent assault and two of sexual touching allegedly committed against six men between 2003 and 2020. He has stated that the charges are 'all either baseless or they distort the truth'.
Pre-trial evidence and suppression order lifted
On Wednesday, Judge Glenn Walsh lifted a suppression order on the crown case and the tendency and coincidence evidence, which will be admissible at the trial beginning on 3 August and expected to run for four months. Walsh confirmed that Jones now faces a total of 22 charges 'said to have been committed against six complainants'.
The prosecution submitted last week that it is 'improbable' that two similar accounts of Jones allegedly touching a complainant's penis while driving would be 'untrue'. In both instances, the complainant was driving a car and there was 'no reciprocity prior to the touching', the court heard. The judge accepted that none of the complainants had any prior knowledge of each other, stating: 'No complainant has any relevant association with any other complainant.'
Alleged incidents at first meetings and in mentoring relationships
Two of the six complainants told police they were assaulted on the first occasion they met Jones: one at a fashion show and one at a fundraising meeting. In the fashion show incident, Jones allegedly squeezed the bottom of a young man he had just met, making the complainant feel 'very uncomfortable'. In the fundraising meeting case, the man told police that while he was talking, Jones placed his hand on the top of his leg and rested it on his bottom.
Other complainants had a relationship where the defendant was a mentor or benefactor, the court heard. Two complainants had a relationship with Jones from a young age which evolved from a professional one to a friendship over time.
Defence's suppression bid and judge's ruling
The defence had applied for a suppression order, expressing concern that reporting of the allegations and the tendency and coincidence arguments might be read by a complainant and could prejudice the hearing. However, in making his decision to lift the suppression order, Walsh said 'no material has been presented to show that any media reporting to date has not been fair and accurate'.
Walsh emphasised that Jones has the presumption of innocence, stating: 'It is the prosecution that bear the onus of proof throughout, beyond reasonable doubt, for each element of each offence as charged.' The prosecution's application to call two witnesses who refused to give a statement to police was denied.
The radio host, who denies the charges, was charged in November 2024 after an investigation by the Sydney Morning Herald journalist Kate McClymont.
