Courtroom showdown begins
Retired 2GB host Ray Hadley has been called to give evidence in the trial of his former colleague and rival Alan Jones, as the veteran broadcaster faces charges of indecent assault and sexual touching, as reported by ABC Australia. The trial, being heard in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court, relates to allegations made by six male complainants, according to PerthNow.
Mr Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching, PerthNow reported, and has denied all allegations against him. ABC Australia reported that Mr Jones faces 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching.
Allegations by Complainant C
One complainant, known as Complainant C, has told the court that Mr Jones repeatedly kissed him and touched him on the penis on the outside of his clothing, PerthNow reported. ABC Australia reported that Mr Jones kissed and touched a young colleague in 2008, without the man's consent. The complainant was 40 years younger than Mr Jones, according to ABC Australia.
Complainant C told the court last month that he broke down while confiding his allegations to Mr Hadley in October 2019, PerthNow reported. C said he “did not want anyone to know” at that point. He described breaking down sobbing, telling Mr Hadley: “he's a fing grub, he used to grab me on the cock, he used to kiss me”, and later “he's a fing c, he's just a c”, as quoted by PerthNow. C said Mr Hadley “asked if I was okay” before he broke down crying.
During cross-examination, C denied coming forward to benefit Mr Hadley, PerthNow reported.
The alleged secret contract
The court has heard testimony about an alleged secret contract for Mr Hadley to replace Mr Jones as breakfast show host, as reported by both ABC Australia and PerthNow. James Willis, a former senior producer for Mr Jones's breakfast show, told the court on Monday that in 2019 he became aware that Mr Hadley had been telling others he had signed a contract to replace Mr Jones, PerthNow reported. “My understanding is Mr Hadley had signed a secret contract to replace Mr Jones while Mr Jones was coming off contract,” Mr Willis told the court, PerthNow reported. “And while this was meant to be a secret, it had spread throughout the corridors enough that our team, including Mr Jones, had been aware of it.”
ABC Australia reported that a man who worked at 2GB was questioned about his knowledge of the alleged ploy. The witness told the court that Mr Hadley had told others in March 2019 he had been signed to take over the breakfast slot by July. The man said it “just seemed so extraordinary” and that it would be “an extraordinary changing of the guard if it did happen”. The court heard the man gave regular updates to Mr Jones via text when he heard any information about Mr Hadley's secret contract, and that he saw no such contractona and no one in management had said anything officially about Mr Hadley replacing Mr Jones. The takeover deal did not eventuate, and Mr Jones signed on as breakfast show host for another two years by May 2019, ABC Australia reported.
Defence case
In her defence case opening, Mr Jones's barrister Gabrielle Bashir said“rivalry, treachery, double dealing, money, hatred, desperation, opportunism and more” was at the heart of the trial, ABC Australia reported. She named Hadley as a“rival” who wanted to“destroy” her client.
C previously told the court that in 2019 Mr Hadley told him columnist and author Peter FitzSimons was researching allegations about Mr Jones, PerthNow reported. While C was confiding his allegations to Mr Hadley, Mr FitzSimons called Mr Hadley, who handed him the phone. C told Mr FitzSimons that Mr Jones had kissed and touched him, and declined an offer to tell his story publicly.