A court-ordered suppression has been established regarding the release of evidence related to the defense’s questioning during the cross-examination of Complainant J in the trial of Alan Jones.
The experienced broadcaster has remained present in court, closely monitoring the proceedings.
This suppression will remain effective until the cross-examination of the complainant is completed.
Complainant J, one of six male individuals accusing Alan Jones in the veteran broadcaster’s historical indecent assault trial, is currently undergoing his second day of cross-examination. An interim court ruling has mandated that details from the defense’s questioning cannot be made public.
At 85 years old, Jones has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of assault with acts of indecency along with two counts of sexual touching involving six alleged victims from 2003 to 2020.
Throughout the initial four days of the trial, the former radio host has maintained a composed demeanor, often sitting cross-legged and occasionally jotting down notes.
Complainant J, the first witness to testify in this local court trial, previously claimed that Jones indecently assaulted him on multiple occasions, starting when he was just 17 years old.
The court heard that the complainant, who once aspired to be an athlete, was kissed on the lips and touched inappropriately several times by Jones in both his Circular Quay apartment and at a private farm in Fitzroy Falls.
Earlier this week, during his initial testimony, Complainant J stated that Jones had given him a mobile phone, a new car, and financial support ranging from $400 to $600 weekly between 2004 and 2012, which Jones purportedly claimed was to assist with his training and competitions.
Following an objection from the prosecution regarding potential “inadmissible evidence,” Judge Glenn Walsh implemented an interim non-publication order effective from Wednesday.
How long will the suppression remain in effect?
The suppression was still in place during Thursday’s proceedings, with Judge Walsh anticipated to reach a final decision regarding the order after the completion of Complainant J’s cross-examination.
Prior to the imposition of the order, Jones’s defense attorney, Gabrielle Bashir SC, confronted the complainant on Tuesday, suggesting that he had read news articles about various allegations against Jones before he reported to the police shortly after Jones’s arrest in November 2024.
The complainant denied this assertion, rejecting Ms. Bashir’s claim that he had seen reports indicating that a “schoolboy” had been “passionately” kissed by Jones and felt “trapped” in a vehicle when the defendant touched him.
The court also learned that Jones had provided a character reference for the complainant at the time he was sentenced for a driving offense, during a period when they were frequently in contact.
The trial, which is being conducted with a judge alone, is ongoing.
