Big call over ex-shock jock Jones’ alleged sex abuse
A host of witnesses who claimed they saw no evidence of sexual misconduct by controversial radio presenter Alan Jones could clear his name, a court has been told.
The 84-year-old has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching against nine victims during the 17 years he dominated the broadcaster.
He will dispute the allegations at a month-long trial that begins in August, but Jones’ lawyer, Bryan Wrench, said plenty of evidence appeared to clear his client’s name.
“We have received 800 pages of material which we believe exonerates Mr Jones,” he told Sydney Downing Center Local Court on Friday.
These included eight witnesses who said they did not see any of the alleged abuse, Mr. Wrench said.
The prosecution had previously stated that 139 witnesses would be heard at the hearing regarding the allegations and that the hearing could last up to four months.
The defense claim comes after Jones’ legal team issued nearly two dozen subpoenas as part of their own investigation after the prosecution said all relevant evidence had been forwarded.
“The cupboard was empty,” Mr. Wrench said.
The Crown prosecutor has previously cited issues of legal and journalistic privilege as a reason for the delayed production of evidence, including analysis reports from Jones’ phone.
The court was told negotiations over the privileged material were still ongoing and now included sensitive information about the complainants.
The matter will be brought to court again on March 5.
Jones was arrested in November 2024 following an eight-month police investigation into allegations of historic sexual abuse.
He is accused of sexually harassing nine complainants between 2003 and 2020, both behind closed doors and in public places such as restaurants, events and the Sydney Opera House.
Two of the alleged victims were driving for the former teacher when he inappropriately assaulted them, according to prosecutors.
The accusations, which Jones said “are all either unfounded or distort the truth”, followed a hugely influential broadcasting career that launched in 1985.
During his decades on the air, Jones became a feared interviewer who excelled at questioning leaders while dividing audiences with his outspoken views.
Before joining rival 2GB, he worked at Sydney radio station 2UE, where he broke ratings records for a long time until 2020.
Apart from his unsuccessful streak in politics, he also coached the Australian national men’s rugby union team, achieving some historic successes between 1984 and 1988.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
