Alan Jones to Plead Not Guilty to 34 Sexual Assault Charges
Alan Jones claims the allegations against him are baseless and plans to fight the charges in court
Alan Jones, Sydney, Australia, Sexual Assault, Court
Sydney: Alan Jones is gearing up to fight 34 sexual assault charges. His lawyer confirmed he’ll plead not guilty during his first court appearance since his arrest.
The former radio host showed up at Sydney’s Downing Centre local court, where Judge Michael Allen confirmed that Jones will face a jury trial. This is a big deal, especially since he was hit with eight more charges recently, adding to the 24 from November.
These allegations involve 10 people and include some serious claims, like aggravated indecent assault. The incidents are said to have happened between 2001 and 2019, with the youngest alleged victim being just 17 at the time.
After the court session, Jones took a moment to chat with reporters. He firmly stated, “I am certainly not guilty,” and emphasized that the allegations are either baseless or twisted. He also mentioned he wasn’t given a chance to respond to the claims before his arrest.
Jones insisted he never committed any indecent acts and reminded everyone that the law presumes he’s innocent until proven guilty. As he arrived at court, some members of the public shouted insults at him, showing the tension surrounding the case.
His lawyers, Bryan Wrench and Chris Murphy, will be back in court on March 11 next year. The judge noted that there are still several hearings to go through before the trial can officially start.
There was quite a media frenzy outside the court, with reporters eager to cover the high-profile case. The NSW police commissioner had previously mentioned that they expected more people might come forward with allegations against Jones.
His arrest followed a lengthy investigation by NSW police that kicked off in March. They described the process as “long, thorough, protracted.” Jones was taken into custody at his apartment in Circular Quay back in November.