Alan Jones will plead not guilty to 34 historical sexual assault charges, his lawyer has confirmed in Jones’s first court appearance since he was arrested.
The former Sydney radio host appeared before Judge Michael Allen, the New South Wales chief magistrate, at Sydney’s Downing Centre local court on Wednesday, where it was confirmed Jones will face a jury trial on the charges.
It comes after the 83-year-old was charged on Tuesday with an additional eight indecent assault offences alleged to have occurred against a 10th victim. In November, he was charged with 26 offences alleged to have occurred against nine people spanning almost two decades.
The charges include 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault where the alleged victim was under his authority. He also faces allegations of assault with an act of indecency, sexually touching a person without their consent and common assault.
The alleged offences took place between 2001 and 2019, and the youngest of the alleged victims was 17 years old at the time.
After exiting the court after the mention, Jones stopped for a moment to speak to the media that had surrounded him.
“I am certainly not guilty, and I’ll be presenting my case to a jury, as you heard this morning,” he said.
“I want you to understand this, these allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth. And you should know that prior to my arrest I was given no opportunity by police to answer any of these allegations.
“I have never indecently assaulted these people. The law assumes that I am not guilty, and I am not guilty.”
When Jones arrived at the court members of the public shouted insults at him.
Jones, who is represented by lawyers Bryan Wrench and Chris Murphy, will face the court again next year after Allen adjourned his case to 11 March. Allen told the court that the matter will still need to go through a series of other hearings before it progresses to a trial charge.
“I understand there is some matter that is attracting serious media attention today,” Allen told the court ahead of Jones appearing.
In November, when 26 charges were laid against Jones, the NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, told reporters police were anticipating more people coming forward.
Jones’s arrest came after months of investigation by NSW police, which began in March. Police said the investigation was “long, thorough, protracted”.
Police arrested the broadcaster at his apartment at Sydney’s Circular Quay in November.
