A former 2GB presenter says he did not see veteran broadcaster Alan Jones grab one of his alleged victims under the table at a Sydney restaurant or that he had overheard remarks suggesting the man had \u201ccopped a feel\u201d, a court has been told.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones, 85, is standing trial in Sydney\u2019s Downing Centre Local Court having pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching.<\/p>\n
He has denied all allegations made by the six alleged victims.<\/p>\n
The second male alleged victim to give evidence during the trial \u2013 a man who can only be known as \u201cComplainant C\u201d \u2013 has alleged Mr Jones touched his penis on the outside of his clothes and kissed him without his consent on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones has been charged with touching C underneath the table during a lunch at a Sydney north shore restaurant nearly 20 years ago.<\/p>\n
C previously told the court the incident was witnessed by several people, and it left him feeling embarrassed. He testified a guest at the lunch later remarked to him: \u201cYou copped a feel under the table? Did you like it?\u201d<\/p>\n
C told the court the comment was said in the presence of ex-2GB presenter Jason Morrison.<\/p>\n
In his evidence to the court on Tuesday, Mr Morrison \u2013 who is currently The Daily Telegraph\u2019s chief of staff \u2013 said he did not see Mr Jones\u2019 hand under the table and in C\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t, no,\u201d Mr Morrison said when asked by Crown prosecutor Georgina Wright if he had witnessed the alleged incident.<\/p>\n
He also denied observing C was \u201cembarrassed\u201d, telling the court C appeared \u201cfrustrated that he was over the other side of the table and he wanted to be over with us\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Morrison has told the court some people had remarked to C that he and Mr Jones \u201clooked like a great couple\u201d.<\/p>\n
However he said that was \u201cbanter\u201d and they were making fun of C because he was at the \u201cadult end of the table\u201d and it appeared \u201che wanted to be at the fun end\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Morrison previously described it as a \u201cquite a fun occasion\u201d and did not see anything untoward.<\/p>\n
Ms Wright suggested to Mr Morrison that he made the joke about them looking like a \u201cgreat couple\u201d because he saw Mr Jones\u2019 hand under the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Mr Morrison said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean if I was aware of that and given \u2026 my forthright manner, I would have raised it. I didn\u2019t because I didn\u2019t see it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Morrison said the \u201cgreat couple\u201d comment was made because they were \u201cmaking light\u201d of the fact that he was at another end of the table with Mr Jones.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a big step to say we genuinely thought they were one,\u201d Mr Morrison said.<\/p>\n
He denied the comment had \u201cromantic\u201d or \u201csexual\u201d connotations.<\/p>\n
He also denied overhearing another patron telling C that he \u201ccopped a feel under the table\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would remember it \u2026 it\u2019s a fairly significant thing if I heard it,\u201d Mr Morrison told the court.<\/p>\n
The court has been told some of C\u2019s allegations were first aired publicly by journalist Kate McClymont in late 2023.<\/p>\n
Mr Morrison was asked if he had a \u201cpre-existing contempt\u201d for Ms McClymont and the Sydney Morning Herald.<\/p>\n
He said he spoke to Ms McClymont about a story about Mr Jones and was happy to be quoted however it was omitted which he found to be \u201ca bit average\u201d.<\/p>\n
He also said he believed that some of Ms McClymont\u2019s reporting of some matters to do with ICAC was \u201ca bit rich\u201d and had experiences \u201cwhich had allowed\u201d him to form views about the Sydney Morning Herald.<\/p>\n
The trial continues.<\/p>\n