Lawyers Demand Disclosure of Officers Accessing Alan Jones's Phone
Legal representatives for broadcaster Alan Jones have called on New South Wales police to disclose which officers accessed or downloaded data from Jones's phone amid a sexual assault investigation. The demand arises following a police search of the 85-year-old's Sydney residence in November 2024, conducted after an eight-month inquiry into allegations of historical sexual abuse.
Claims of Impropriety and Questionable Warrants
Jones's barrister, Gabrielle Bashir SC, addressed Sydney’s Downing Centre local court on Tuesday, asserting that the search warrants might be invalid and accusing police of improper conduct during the search. Bashir stated that the phone was seized and subsequently searched in a disorderly manner.
“The phone was seized and the evidence to date suggests it was then searched willy-nilly,”
she said.
Bashir further criticized the search warrant as fundamentally flawed, noting it referenced accusations of sexual intercourse without consent among other offences, which did not align with the charges ultimately filed against Jones.
“On its face the search warrant was ‘bad’, she continued, partly because it referred to Jones being accused of sexual intercourse without consent amongst other offences.”
Jones faces 25 charges of indecent assault and two charges of sexual touching involving nine alleged victims over nearly two decades during his broadcasting career.
Potential Legal Actions and Police Response
Bashir indicated that Jones might seek to temporarily or permanently halt the legal proceedings or request exclusion of evidence obtained unlawfully.
Representing the NSW police commissioner, barrister Peter Singleton denied any evidence of officer impropriety or warrant invalidity. He opposed the release of documents solely to enable Jones’s defence to explore potential grounds for suspending the case.
“It is fishing to find out whether or not there is a case,”
Singleton told Judge Glenn Walsh.
Upcoming Hearing and Ongoing Evidence Disputes
Jones is scheduled to contest the allegations in a hearing expected to last four months, commencing in August. His defence team continues to seek access to police and complainant documents.
In March, Bashir informed the court that the defence was still awaiting substantial material to be provided.
Details of Allegations and Career Background
The allegations against Jones involve sexual misconduct with nine complainants between 2003 and 2020, occurring in private settings as well as public venues including restaurants and prominent events.
Jones has denied the charges, describing them as either unfounded or misrepresentative of the truth. These charges surfaced following his retirement from a significant broadcasting career that began in 1985.
Throughout his extensive career, Jones was known as a formidable interviewer, engaging political leaders and polarizing audiences with his candid opinions. He worked initially with Sydney radio station 2UE before moving to rival station 2GB, where he maintained high ratings until 2020.
In addition to broadcasting, Jones pursued a brief political career and served as coach of the Australian national men’s rugby union team from 1984 to 1988, overseeing notable achievements.
