Alan Jones’s legal team has expressed “grave concerns” regarding the legality of a police search of the former broadcaster’s phone conducted on November 18th, before he faced charges for 35 historical sexual assault offenses. Jones, who is currently on bail, was not present at his hearing at Sydney’s central local court on Tuesday; however, his lawyer, Bryan Wrench, raised objections about the police’s download of Jones’s phone due to concerns over legality and journalistic privilege.
In response to these legal complaints, the New South Wales police force has enlisted the services of lawyers, Wrench informed the court. The 84-year-old is accused of various offenses, including indecent assaults and sexual touching, across different locations in NSW such as Newtown, Sydney City, and Tamworth. Jones, a former broadcaster for 2GB and Sky News Australia, strongly denies any wrongdoing.
Beyond the issue with the phone search, Wrench also highlighted a delay in receiving the full brief of evidence from the prosecution, suggesting it had not fulfilled its duty of disclosure. Since May, the defense has received additional witness statements, leading Wrench to express concerns over the timing, as this information was available to the prosecution since November and December.
Wrench requested an extension for the charge certification process, which was granted and will be heard on September 18th. The prosecutor will subsequently review the evidence and confirm the charges by that date. Jones is facing a total of 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 20 counts of assault with an act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent, and two counts of common assault.
Jones has also announced his intention to take legal action against Nine newspapers, deeming the allegations “demonstrably false.” In his last court appearance in December, he maintained his innocence and stated that he had not been given the opportunity to address the allegations before his arrest. He remains steadfast in his claim that he is not guilty and is prepared to present his case to a jury.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jul/08/alan-jones-allegations-lawyers-question-legality-of-phone-search-ntwnfb
