Ray Hadley signed a secret deal to take over the coveted 2GB breakfast slot from Alan Jones, a court has been told.<\/p>\n
Mr Hadley is scheduled to appear in the witness box on Tuesday, bringing him face-to-face with his former 2GB stablemate-turned-rival as part of Mr Jones\u2019 blockbuster indecent assault trial.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones, 85, is standing trial in Sydney\u2019s Downing Centre District Court having pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching relating to six male complainants.<\/p>\n
One of the alleged victims, who can only be known as complainant C, has told the court Mr Jones kissed him without his consent and grabbed him on the penis, including on one occasion at a Sydney restaurant.<\/p>\n
C previously told that court that he broke down in tears to Mr Hadley in October 2019 as he detailed his allegations against Mr Jones.<\/p>\n
James Willis, who worked as a senior producer for Mr Jones\u2019 breakfast show, told the court on Monday that in 2019 he became aware that Mr Hadley had been telling others that he had signed a contract to take over Mr Jones\u2019 breakfast slot.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy understanding is Mr Hadley had signed a secret contract to replace Mr Jones while Mr Jones was coming off contract,\u201d Mr Willis, who was working for Mr Jones at the time, told the court.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd while this was meant to be a secret, it had spread throughout the corridors.\u201d<\/p>\n
The court was told that Mr Willis sent Mr Jones a text message saying it was \u201cobvious\u201d that Mr Hadley thought he would be taking over the coveted breakfast slot at the end of the financial year when Mr Jones was off-contract.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones was re-signed by 2GB to a two-year deal in 2019, however ultimately retired from radio in 2020 due to health concerns and replaced by Ben Fordham in the prime timeslot.<\/p>\n
The court was told on Monday afternoon that Mr Hadley was due to give evidence following Mr Willis, whose evidence is due to come to a close on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u2018Grab me\u2019<\/p>\n
James Willis, a current 2GB host and former Daily Telegraph journalist, told the court on Monday that C told him during a November 2023 phone call that Mr Jones Mr Jones \u201cused to full grab me on the c**k\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said he phoned C after he had received a call from journalist Kate McClymont, who later reported allegations about Mr Jones.<\/p>\n
He told the court on Monday that during the conversation, C appeared \u201cagitated and distressed\u201d and told him that Mr Jones \u201cused to touch him inappropriately\u201d. <\/p>\n
Mr Willis said he remembered C saying: \u201che used to full grab me on the c**k\u201d.<\/p>\n
C also previously told the court that Mr Jones had kissed him in a Melbourne hotel room while he was in town to watch an AFL game.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones has not been charged over the alleged incident.<\/p>\n
C previously told the court that Mr Jones offered to give him a tour of the apartment and when they went into the walk-in wardrobe, Mr Jones told him \u201cI\u2019ve missed you\u201d and kissed him on the lips.<\/p>\n
Mr Willis, who was in the apartment at the time, said he had remained on the couch while Mr Jones and C walked into another room and did not see what happened.<\/p>\n
\u2018Very, very concerned\u2019<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, an allegedly threatening email sent to a key witness in the trial has been referred to police, the court was told on Monday.<\/p>\n
Former 2GB presenter Jason Morrison, has previously told the court he did not witness anything untoward at a lunch when C alleges he was grabbed under the table by Mr Jones.<\/p>\n
He also told the court did not overhear anyone discussing any alleged incident.<\/p>\n
Mr Morrison, who is currently The Daily Telegraph\u2019s chief of staff, had been in the witness box for a week before his evidence came to a close on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones\u2019 barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC told the court Mr Morrison was sent an email \u201cin relation to his evidence\u201d and that she was \u201cvery, very concerned\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo witness should have to endure this sort of conduct \u2026 It\u2019s a very serious matter,\u201d Ms Bashir said.<\/p>\n
Judge Glenn Walsh said the matter had referred to police and would be the subject of an investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny person who reads the media should be very careful in relation to what they do and not run the risk of committing a criminal offence,\u201d Judge Walsh said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe matters have been placed before the police, as I understand it, will be the subject of a police investigation. They will determine what they do in due course.<\/p>\n
In a statement, NSW Police said: \u201cNSW Police received a report this morning that a 54-year-old man received a threatening email. <\/p>\n
\u201cPolice have commenced inquiries into the incident.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Denier\u2019<\/p>\n
In the last of his evidence, Mr Morrison told the court that he thought it was \u201crepulsive\u201d after he was branded a \u201cdenier\u201d by his former colleague Ray Hadley.<\/p>\n
Mr Morrison previously told the court he was at the lunch but did not see anything untoward.<\/p>\n
Separately, the court has been told C made a complaint to Mr Hadley about Mr Jones before he went to police.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid it come to your attention that Ray Hadley addressed the \u2026 allegations on the air \u2026 And did you hear him say, \u2018Now, he\u2019s a denier, Jason Morrison\u2019?\u201d Mr Jones\u2019 barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did, I thought it was repulsive actually. And unnecessary,\u201d Mr Morrison replied.<\/p>\n
Mr Morrison told the court that he was \u201cshocked\u201d when he was accused on air of being at the lunch and knowing what happened.<\/p>\n
He told the court he believed some parts of the broadcast were \u201cdeeply defamatory\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought about writing to the radio station,\u201d Mr Morrison said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was quite annoyed that (2GB) would allow slanderous things to be said about me. <\/p>\n
I mean in my mind this (the allegations) was a police matter, not a commentary matter,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The trial continues on Tuesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ray Hadley signed a secret deal to take over the coveted 2GB breakfast slot from Alan Jones, 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