Broadcaster’s defence team abandon push for delay
Alan Jones’ defense team has abandoned an attempt to adjourn his indecent assault and sexual touching trial on the grounds that he “can’t wait to have his day in court”.
Last week, Local Court Judge Glenn Walsh said lawyers for the former broadcaster had made a motion seeking either a temporary stay of the proceedings, known as a stay of execution, or an order that certain evidence obtained from devices seized from the former broadcaster’s flat should not be admitted in the trial, which is scheduled to begin on August 3.
In the proposal, “The Directorate of Public Prosecution requested the postponement until the items, dates and times on which the data obtained from the devices seized in the defendant’s house on November 18, 2024 were used as basis are determined.”
But as pre-trial arguments continued on Monday, SC defense barrister Gabrielle Bashir told Downing Center Local Court they would no longer move the motion, saying the matter could be resolved at trial.
“Regarding the devices… the prosecution refuses to identify the issue,” Bashir said.
“This is an issue that can be addressed at trial. Your Honor, it is not our intention to pursue this motion, which was always a stay regarding the determination of the evidence.”
Bashir said Jones was “anxious to have his day in court.”
“We want to start on August 3. I think all parties are mobilizing to make that happen.”
Jones has denied 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching relating to six complainants from 2003 to 2020.
The 85-year-old man is accused of committing 22 crimes at his harbourside flat, his farm at Fitzroy Falls in the Southern Highlands and a restaurant on the lower north shore, among other locations in Sydney.
The judge in his preliminary hearing decision last week It was decided in favor of the Crown and would allow prosecutors to rely at trial on types of circumstantial evidence known as propensity and coincidence.
Prosecutors will seek to prove that Jones exhibited a pattern of behavior when acting out of an alleged sexual interest in “much younger” men.
However, the judge made clear that Jones “enjoys the presumption of innocence” and that “the burden of proof is on the prosecution for each element of each crime charged beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The court has previously heard the Crown expects 76 witnesses to be called but that number could rise.
Strike Force Bonnefin was set up to investigate the former teacher and Wallabies coach following a major investigation. Sydney Morning Herald And Age.
Jones’ trial is scheduled to run from Aug. 3 to possibly December.
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