Alan Jones trial: defence alleges fabrication to humiliate

The defence in Alan Jones's sexual assault trial has accused one of the broadcaster's alleged victims of inventing intimate details about his genitals in order to humiliate and smear him. The claim came on Friday as complainant J, now in his 40s, faced cross-examination at Sydney's Downing Centre local court, where Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 22 indecent assault and sexual touching charges involving six men.

Defence points to 'penis wiggling' account

Cross-examined by barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC, J denied fabricating his account of alleged incidents at Jones's Fitzroy Falls farm more than two decades ago. Bashir latched onto J's testimony about an incident in which Jones allegedly entered a bedroom after a "tap, tap, tap", and while both were wearing robes, wiggled his hips so their penises crossed. J had also said Jones's penis was not fully erect and "not very big". Bashir suggested these descriptions were "an attempt to humiliate" and "an attempt to smear" the former media titan. J firmly replied, "No."

Dispute over intimate details

Earlier in his evidence-in-chief, J said he had not consented to a kiss near the farm's pigsty, to the touching of his penis on a lounge room couch, or to sexual touching in a guest bedroom. Under cross-examination, Bashir accused J of inventing details about Jones's circumcision and the hairiness of his genitals. She suggested J had guessed these traits because circumcision was likely for an "Anglo-Saxon man of his age" and the same went for genital hair. J responded that he had indeed seen Jones's penis, countering Bashir's assertion that he could not have known such details. He also recounted that Jones had called his own penis "impressive" when he was a teenager.

Defence alleges a confused and unreliable memory

Bashir repeatedly challenged J's recollection of the visits, suggesting he had mixed up dates, occasions, and other guests. J acknowledged that his family had been invited to the property and that he had accompanied them, but he disputed the defence's alternative timeline. Bashir pointed to inconsistencies between J's police statement and his in-court testimony, including the number of nights he stayed and which vehicle he drove. She asked directly whether he was making up evidence as he went along; J said he was not.

Pigsty kiss and robe incident questioned

The defence also focused on the alleged kiss near the pigsty. Bashir asserted it never happened, calling it "a fabrication". She further suggested that J's claim of fear was contradicted by his behavior: if he was afraid of being assaulted, he would not have walked into the lounge room wearing only a robe after Jones instructed him to shower and return with nothing else. J insisted the events occurred as he described.

Trial context and wider allegations

Jones is defending 22 charges involving six men, with allegations spanning several years. The alleged offenses took place in Sydney and at his Southern Highlands property. J is the first complainant to testify, and his testimony is expected to set the tone for how the court views the other allegations. The defense has signaled it will rigorously test each complainant's credibility.

What's next

The trial is continuing, with J's cross-examination expected to conclude before other witnesses are called. The defense's strategy appears to be an attack on the veracity and consistency of the complainants, while the prosecution will rely on their accounts and any corroborating evidence. Jones maintains his innocence, and the case will ultimately hinge on whether the magistrates find the complainants' testimony credible beyond reasonable doubt.