Alan Jones's lawyer says evidence 'blatantly contradictory' to indecent assault allegations
Alan Jones's lawyer has told a court the brief of evidence against the former broadcaster contains witness statements that are "blatantly contradictory" to the allegations against him.
Mr Jones was arrested last year after a nine-month investigation by NSW Police's Child Abuse Squad, and is now facing dozens of historical indecent assault and sexual touching charges.
It's alleged these assaults took place between 2001 and 2019.
The case was briefly mentioned in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday morning, where it was adjourned for eight weeks.
In court, the 83-year-old's lawyer Bryan Wrench suggested prosecutors should use the adjournment to "decide whether to proceed" with the case.
"Witnesses said they have never seen Mr Jones engage in any sexually inappropriate behaviour at all," Mr Wrench told the court.
Mr Jones was not in attendance during the Tuesday hearing, having been excused from appearing last year.
He is facing charges including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 20 counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault.
NSW Police claimed he knew some of the alleged victims personally and professionally, and the youngest complainant was aged 17 years old when the alleged offences occurred.
The most serious charge he faces is aggravated indecent assault, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment for each alleged offence.
In March, police laid an additional charge involving an 11th complainant.
After leaving his first court appearance in December, Mr Jones told the media he was not guilty and would be defending every charge against him.
"I will not be engaging in a running commentary in the media. But, I want you to understand this: these allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth and you should know that prior to my arrest I was given no opportunity by police to answer any of these allegations," Mr Jones said.
He is yet to formally enter a plea or be committed to trial.
The matter will return to court on July 8.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
'Make the call' Confusion over Cerra HIA
AFL: Adam Cerra was completely cleared of concussion but was removed from the field ten minutes later, creating confusion over the consussion syste.

News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Weekly basis': Lawyer reveals why young people are still carrying knives, despite harsher laws
Harsher penalties will do little to curb the spike in youth knife crime unless the underlying reasons why they are being carried are addressed, a leading criminal lawyer has declared. Astor Legal principal lawyer Avinash Singh said he deals with people charged with knife offences on a weekly basis, with many also involved in the illegal drug trade. 'We have represented a number of minors accused of carrying knives – generally from lower socio-economic areas carrying knives for self-defence,' Mr Singh told NewsWire. 'Unfortunately, a lot of these young people have been assaulted and/or threatened themselves. 'They feel that reporting the matter to police after the fact will do them little good, particularly if they are seriously injured or even killed,' he said. 'As such, they often feel that they have to carry a knife to protect themselves.' The hard truth then, is that harsher crimes may not reduce offending, or make the community any safer, Mr Singh said. 'While it is understandable that governments and the community demand tougher laws to combat knife crime, this is unlikely to do much to reduce it in my opinion,' he said. 'People who carry knives are unlikely to stop just because of increased penalties. 'Research has found that they stop when they are no longer exposed to an environment where carrying a knife is seen as a necessity,' he said. 'This means addressing these communities by providing resources, programs and funding to prevent the issue – something governments have continuously failed to do.' The Victorian Allan Government announced in May it will be introducing laws to ban the sale and possession of machetes following an alleged spate of machete assaults. From September 1, those carrying a 'controlled weapon' or knife in Victoria will face up to two years imprisonment or a fine of $30,700. 'In Victoria, community safety comes first. We must never let places we meet become places we fear,' Premier Jacinta Allan said. 'I hate these knives, and I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives.' NSW introduced sweeping knife law reforms in 2024, giving police the right to scan people with handheld electronic metal-detecting wands, as well as increasing the maximum penalty for anyone found guilty of selling a knife to a child under 16. Those found guilty in NSW face four years imprisonment fines up to $4,400. Mr Singh said he feared 'the expanded search powers will disproportionately be used against young people from lower socio-economic areas'. 'This leads to distrust of police and can in fact have the opposite effect – that is, young people keep knives but simply avoid police and are less likely to report crimes'. He said this is already seen in the rising amount of NSW youth caught up in the criminal system following legislation changes and bail reform. 'The strictest knife crime laws at present are in NSW. While the laws have only recently been introduced, there has been a noticeable increase in the courts seeing knife offences,' Mr Singh said. 'This, along with recent Bail Act reforms in NSW, has led to a marked increase in children being refused bail and held in custody, which does nothing to address their behaviour or promote rehabilitation of offenders.'

News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Man arrested after allegedly escaping Brisbane correctional centre, committing crime spree
A man has been charged after allegedly committing a crime spree in Brisbane's southern suburbs while on the run from a correctional centre. Police were called to Tristania Way in Mount Gravatt East shortly after 2am Sunday after reports a stolen Mercedes Benz sedan crashed into several parked vehicles. Upon arrival, witnesses told police they saw the man flee the scene on foot. The damaged sedan was found at the scene. Police allege the man later went to a fast food restaurant and assaulted a ride share driver in the car park, attempting to steal his vehicle. The man was stopped by a member of the public. About 2.40am, police were called to Pine Mountain Rd after reports the same man broke into several homes and ransacked some in an attempt to steal keys. Police allege the man assaulted the occupant of one of the houses during the crime spree. The 38-year-old was arrested in the rear courtyard of a property on Pine Mountain Rd. 'The Mercedes was stolen from a Bell St address at Kangaroo Point on June 1,' a Queensland Police statement read. It will also be alleged the man had been wanted by police after absconding from the Palen Creek Low Custody Correctional Centre about 100km south of Brisbane on May 27. He has been charged with four counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, three counts of enter dwelling with intent, two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of robbery, one count each of receiving tainted property, fail to remain at the scene of an accident and drive with court cancelled driver's license. Police expect more charges to be laid at a later date.