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Earlier on Tuesday, Wrench told the court that he had written to the ODPP to ask them to “reconsider reversing” a decision in September for the matter not to be heard before a jury in the District Court, but before a local court magistrate.
He said “they refused”, adding that he also asked “for full disclosure of all material in this matter”.
“We need to see all of the cards,” Wrench said.
Alan Jones leaves Day Street police station on the day of his arrest, November 18, last year.Credit: James Brickwood
Wrench said: “As of less than a week ago, we have received one folder of material,” Walsh interrupted him to say he acknowledged Wrench’s concern but he was “now hearing the matter”.
“I asked you one question – when can the matter get ready [for hearing], from your point of view?” Walsh said.
Wrench continued that the Herald’s chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont had declined to provide any documents relating to interviews with witnesses, with Walsh responding that he could “subpoena her if you wish”.
When asked by Walsh how long he needed to resolve the matter, Wrench said he first needed to know when the brief of evidence had “fully been served”.
“The DPP has refused to tell us whether or not the investigation is complete,” he said, adding Jones needed to “get all the documents before him so he knows the case to meet”.
“We expect to make our own inquiry of investigation to properly defend Mr Jones while he has been deprived of a jury trial… We don’t want to deprive Mr Jones of a fair hearing.”
Meanwhile, the magistrate asked Curran how many witnesses were in the crown’s case, to which she said it “currently contains 139 witnesses”.
Alan Jones’ lawyer Bryan Wrench.Credit: Kate Geraghty
She added that the ODPP had made four attempts to obtain further details about Jones’ representation so the parties could hold a case conference and attempt to reduce that number.
“As of today we have not been advised who counsel is, so no conference has been able to be held,” Curran said.
Last month, new details emerged about Jones’ charges, shining further light on the alleged crime scenes and circumstances.
After initially being charged with dozens of offences, several were dropped or downgraded throughout his year-long legal process, with the number of complainants involved recently dropping from 11 to nine.
Court documents seen by this masthead shortly after Jones’ arrest at his luxury Circular Quay apartment one year ago outlined allegations such as fondling penises, stroking thighs, squeezing bottoms and pulling a man’s scrotum.
He was accused of committing the crimes at his former Newtown home, his harbourside apartment, his farm at Fitzroy Falls in the Southern Highlands, Tamworth in northern NSW, and other Sydney spots.
However, updated court documents seen by the Herald last month revealed further details.
They include alleging one complainant was assaulted five times at Jones’ Fitzroy Falls residence in 2004 by being kissed on the lips, having his robe undone and his underpants removed, Jones rubbing his penis against his own and touching and squeezing the complainant’s penis while masturbating.
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That same man was allegedly assaulted while driving Jones to the Fitzroy Falls home and twice in Jones’ Sydney home in 2003.
In 2008, Jones allegedly assaulted a man three times at a Kiama restaurant, including having “stroked” him “on the front and back of his thigh on the outside of his clothing”, “patted” him “on the bottom on the outside of his clothing” and “pushed his body against the back of the complainant’s body, touching [his] penis on the outside of their clothing and pulling their penis”.
Also in 2008, Jones allegedly assaulted another man twice while being driven home from work, kissed him in the lift of his Sydney home three times and twice in the lift of his workplace, and touched his penis on the outside of his clothing at Gunners Barracks restaurant in Mosman.
In 2012, Jones allegedly assaulted another complainant at a Sydney function, touching and squeezing their bottom outside their clothing. Police say Jones “touched and grabbed” another man’s bottom at a Tamworth event in late 2013.
He is further accused of rubbing another man’s leg “up towards his crotch” during a performance at Sydney Opera House in 2014. Five years later, he allegedly touched another complainant “on the back and bottom” during a Sydney event.
Another man was allegedly assaulted in 2015 by being kissed on the corner of his mouth at a Sydney event, and again between 2018 and 2020 at Jones’ Sydney residence, when the broadcaster is accused of “pushing his body, including his genitalia, against the complainant’s upper inner thigh”.
Since his arrest, Jones has vigorously denied all allegations, earlier telling media outside court that he was “certainly not guilty” and would “be presenting my account to a jury” about the “baseless” or distorted allegations.
Jones announced his retirement from radio station 2GB in May 2020.
The matter will return to court next Thursday to determine prehearing legal arguments and dates.
