Sydney, Australia — Legal representatives for former broadcaster Alan Jones are raising serious concerns over the legitimacy of police actions following a search of his phone on November 18, prior to his being charged with 35 counts of historical sexual assault. Jones is currently out on bail and did not attend the recent court session at Sydney Central Local Court.
During the hearing, Jones’s attorney, Bryan Wrench, expressed frustrations over the police’s extraction of data from Jones’s phone, noting that they had formally outlined their concerns regarding potential violations of legal and journalistic privileges. “We reached out to law enforcement about our worries regarding the search on November 18,” Wrench stated, drawing attention to the implications of this action.
As a response to these legal grievances, Wrench disclosed that the New South Wales police had retained their own legal counsel. This announcement follows the confirmation that the 84-year-old Jones faces multiple allegations, purportedly occurring in various locations across New South Wales, including Newtown, Sydney city, Fitzroy Falls, Alexandria, and Tamworth. Jones is known for his previous roles with 2GB and Sky News Australia.
Wrench also noted issues concerning delays in evidence disclosure, claiming the prosecution has not fulfilled its obligations to provide the complete evidence file on time. Since the last court appearance in May, the defense has received additional witness statements, which Wrench found troubling, given that the prosecution had been in possession of these testimonies since late last year.
“This is not a case of selective prosecution. We expect full disclosure,” Wrench emphasized in court. On this occasion, he requested an extension for the charge certification process, which was subsequently approved. This matter is to be revisited on September 18, when the prosecutor is expected to review the evidence to formalize the charges.
Jones is facing a total of 33 charges, including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 20 counts of assault with acts of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent, and two counts of common assault.
The investigation into the alleged incidents has been spearheaded by Strike Force Bonnefin, established by police in March 2024 after reports surfaced from investigative journalist Kate McClymont of the Sydney Morning Herald regarding accusations against Jones.
Denying all allegations, Jones has indicated his intent to pursue legal action against Nine newspapers for what he describes as “demonstrably false” claims. He previously stated his innocence in court last December, when it was confirmed he would face a jury trial. “I am certainly not guilty, and I’ll be presenting my case to a jury,” he asserted, emphasizing that he had not been afforded an opportunity to respond to the allegations before his arrest.
This ongoing legal saga has drawn significant public and media attention, given Jones’s prominence in the Australian media landscape.
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