Alan Jones trial live updates: Complainant ‘J’ to continue evidence in former 2GB broadcaster’s alleged indecent assault, sexual touching trial

Warning: Graphic content

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of day six of Alan Jones’ lengthy criminal trial on charges of indecent assault and sexual touching. Our reporters Clare Sibthorpe and Jacqueline Maley will be bringing you the latest from the courtroom today.

Last week, the NSW Local Court in Sydney’s historic Downing Centre court complex has heard allegations that Jones indecently assaulted a young athlete, starting with unwanted kissing when the man was a teenager in year 12 in the early 2000s. Jones denies the claims.

Our live coverage was paused on Wednesday after Local Court Judge Glenn Walsh temporarily imposed a non-publication order on the cross-examination of the complainant, known as “J”, by Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir, SC. That order was lifted on Thursday afternoon.

“J”, now in his early 40s, denied under questioning by Bashir that he had a financial motive for making the allegations against Jones, and denied that they were a fabrication.

He has given evidence that Jones groped him as he drove the then-radio host to his Fitzroy Falls farm. “J” has also told the court that Jones had indecently assaulted him at the property after telling him to wear “a robe and nothing else”.

The complainant said he came forward to police after seeing reports about Jones’ arrest in November 2024 because he wanted justice.

Jones had supported the promising athlete financially, including paying him hundreds of dollars a week to focus on training and giving him a car and a mobile phone, the court heard.

Today, the man known as complainant “J” returns to the witness box for a sixth day. He will be re-examined by prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC, after his cross-examination concluded on Friday.

A man known as “C” will be the next complainant to give evidence.

Bashir asked “J” a series of questions about whether he read media reports containing similar allegations about Jones in 2023 before he spoke to police the following year. He said he did not.

The Crown alleges that Jones indecently assaulted or sexually touched six men between 2003 and 2020, and is seeking to prove 22 charges against him, including nine indecent assault charges against “J”.

The former broadcaster has emphatically denied wrongdoing, and Bashir said during her opening address to the court that the credibility and reliability of the complainants’ evidence would be tested.

“Rivalry, treachery, double-dealing, money, hatred, desperation, opportunism and more are all at the heart of this case,” Bashir said in her opening remarks to the court.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

Alan Jones has arrived at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, flanked by his solicitor Bryan Wrench, who popped up yesterday at the ICAC hearings, with his other client, Jeremy Greenwood.

(Yesterday the judge in Jones’ trial, Judge Glenn Walsh heard legal arguments, for which Jones’ presence was not required. This allowed Wrench to moonlight across town, at Sydney’s other big hearing).

Today Jones is dressed in a light grey blazer, navy trousers and a sky-blue tie.

Sitting in court, he scrolled a news app on his phone, insouciant, as the assembled lawyers, journalists and court staff waited for the judge to enter.

Today the prosecution will recommence its re-examination of Complainant “J”, who was cross-examined last week by defence counsel Gabrielle Bashir, SC.

Jones has swapped his usual small black notebook for an A5 Spirax number. Less discreet, but all the better for taking plenty of notes, as he has been doing throughout “J”’s evidence.

Complainant “J” is expected to conclude his evidence today. The Crown anticipates it will call “complaint witnesses” related to “J” after that, followed by a new complainant known as “C”.

Complaint witnesses are called to give evidence about what a complainant told them in the past about the allegations in a trial. This kind of evidence may help bolster a complainant’s credibility if they have given the same account over time.

It is not yet known when “C” will start giving evidence, but the Crown has foreshadowed that he will testify that Alan Jones touched him on his penis while he was driving the radio host home from 2GB.

Prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC, said in her opening address to the court that “C” would say Jones kissed him on the lips in the lift of Jones’ harbourside apartment building as he was holding the veteran broadcaster’s belongings. “C” did not consent to this, the Crown says. The prosecution alleges similar conduct occurred when the men were alone in the 2GB lift.

Jones is charged with eight counts of indecent assault in relation to “C”. He vehemently denies the allegations and is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Alan Jones is accused of 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent against six complainants over almost 20 years. He vehemently denies wrongdoing and is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Six men, who were aged between 17 and their 30s at the time of the alleged incidents between 2003 and 2020, are expected to give evidence in the NSW Local Court trial in Sydney.

Complainant “J” started giving evidence on Monday last week via audiovisual link from a separate room and is expected to conclude his evidence today. Nine of the 20 indecent assault charges relate to him, the court has heard.

Jones is accused of indecently assaulting a second complainant, known as “C”, eight times over a one-year period. “C” is the next complainant expected to give evidence.

During her opening address to the court on Monday, prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC, outlined some of the allegations expected to be made by the other four complainants.

• Complainant “F”, who was a 17-year-old working in media, is expected to allege that Jones squeezed his buttock cheeks through his clothing at a news event in Sydney. Wright told the court that “F” told his mother that Jones “grabbed my bum” but he decided not to report it because he felt that nobody would believe his word over the broadcaster’s.
• Complainant “M”, an athlete, is expected to say that Jones sent him fresh flowers each week for a year after he visited Jones’ apartment and commented on the floral arrangements. He alleges Jones hugged and kissed him on the corner of the mouth for a second or two at a public event when he was in his early 30s.
• “M” will also allege that he went to Jones’ apartment some years later and Jones pushed his body against his and kissed him from the cheek to the corner of his mouth. Wright foreshadowed that “M” would give evidence that he pushed Jones back and said “OK mate” before leaving the apartment.
• Complainant “A”, who was 17 at the time of the alleged offence, is expected to say that Jones put his tongue inside his mouth when he was visiting the broadcaster’s Fitzroy Falls property. The mother of “A” is expected to give evidence that her son later wrote her a note that said something like “someone in power did something they should not have”.
• Complainant “H”, who was aged in his early 30s, will allege Jones met him at a fundraising event in Sydney and used his hand to touch the top of his back, sliding slowly down his spine and resting his hand on the top of his bottom.