Prosecutors have dropped one of the indecent assault charges against former radio broadcaster Alan Jones, who faces a four-month hearing in August on 26 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching. The charge, stemming from an incident in Tamworth, New South Wales, where Jones allegedly grabbed a complainant's bottom, was withdrawn in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.
James Staples, the prosecutor, told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions would take no further proceedings on that charge. Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains his innocence. His lawyer, Bryan Wrench, has previously indicated that evidence exists to disprove the claims, including a statement from Jones's butler of 18 years who said he never witnessed inappropriate behaviour.
The case has been complicated by the need to gather evidence from eight complainants. Wrench noted that a high-profile journalist, Kate McClymont of the Sydney Morning Herald, has not yet complied with a subpoena to produce articles about the allegations. McClymont, whose 2023 investigation led to the charges, has declined to provide notes or interview records, citing source confidentiality. The deadline for the subpoena has been extended to 9 June.
The court will reconvene on 19 June to decide on the legality of search warrants executed at Jones's Sydney apartment in November 2024. Jones's legal team argues the warrants may be invalid, partly because they referenced offences not ultimately charged. The withdrawal of the Tamworth charge leaves Jones facing allegations from eight complainants. He has described the charges as baseless or distortions of the truth.
