Complainant denies fabricating details to humiliate Alan Jones at trial
Alan Jones's defence says a complainant invented intimate details to humiliate the broadcaster; the complainant rejects the accusation. The trial in Sydney continues.
The trial of former radio broadcaster Alan Jones has heard defence arguments that one of his alleged victims made up explicit details of indecent assaults to embarrass and smear the 85-year-old. The complainant, referred to as J and now in his 40s, is the first of six men to testify in the case at Downing Centre Local Court. Jones has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching.
During cross-examination on Friday, defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC suggested J had invented an account of Jones's genitals in order to humiliate him. J denied this, as he did when Bashir claimed the testimony was an attempt to defame Jones. Earlier in the trial, J described an incident at Jones's Fitzroy Falls farm where the two men wore robes, and Jones allegedly moved his hips so their penises touched. J also said Jones 's penis was not fully erect and "not very big," which the defence argued was part of a demeaning narrative.
Bashir challenged J's credibility, saying he was making up evidence as he went along and had mixed up visits, dates, and other details. The barrister pointed to inconsistencies between J's police statement and his court testimony, including the number of nights he stayed and the vehicle he drove. She also questioned J's claim that Jones kissed him near a pigsty, calling it a fabrication—J disagreed.
One point of dispute involved a bathrobe. J said Jones was wearing one during the alleged assaults, but Bashir noted the robe was not mentioned in his police statement and suggested he might have read about it in the media. J denied that, insisting Jones was in a robe.
Bashir also argued that J, being young and fit at the time, could have easily pushed Jones away. She asked whether Jones ever threatened to stop providing a stipend or demanded favours in return for financial support. J said no to both questions. Bashir summed up by saying Jones had only asked J to focus on his career. J replied, "That's not all he asked me." The trial is ongoing.
