A key witness has told a court he never saw Alan Jones grab another man under table at a Sydney restaurant and, during an at-times fiery testimony, denied commenting to the alleged victim that he \u201ccopped a feel\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching relating to six male complainants, including one man who can only be known as \u201cComplainant C\u201d.<\/p>\n
C told the court during Mr Jones\u2019 trial that the veteran broadcaster kissed him without his consent in the lifts at the ex-talkback host\u2019s Circular Quay apartment building and the 2GB studios, and touched him on the penis on the outside of his clothing.<\/p>\n
The man has alleged Mr Jones touched him under the table at a lunch at a Sydney north shore restaurant nearly 20 years ago in an incident witnessed by two people.<\/p>\n
C said one of the men later remarked to him: \u201cYou copped a feel under the table, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
One man, who C has claimed was at the lunch, told the court on Tuesday that he did not recall attending the event.<\/p>\n
During an at-times heated examination by Crown prosecutor Georgina Wright SC, he denied making a joke at C\u2019s expense following the alleged incident.<\/p>\n
He was asked if he saw Mr Jones \u201cwith his hand under the table\u201d and appearing to be in C\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou saw that didn\u2019t you?\u201d Ms Wright asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d the man replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suggest you made eye contact with (Complainant C) when doing that?\u201d Ms Wright asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n
He also denied smirking at Complainant C during the alleged incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the meal was over, outside the restaurant, you made a joke to (Complainant C) that he copped a feel under the table, didn\u2019t you?\u201d Ms Wright asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d the man said, adding he did not use \u201cthat sort of language\u201d.<\/p>\n
The man repeatedly denied tailoring his evidence to aid Mr Jones, who he said he considered a friend and repeatedly texted expressing his support when the allegations first surfaced in late 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suggest to you that you are sticking to this version of not recalling anything at all to assist the defendant (Mr Jones) in this trial,\u201d Ms Wright asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sticking to my statement because it is the truth,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n
The court was told that in October 2023, the man texted Mr Jones to tell him journalist Kate McClymont was \u201csniffing around\u201d and asking questions about him.<\/p>\n
Ms McClymont first aired the allegations against Mr Jones in a story in December 2023.<\/p>\n
The man told the court he had a \u201cdisdain\u201d for Ms McClymont because of her previous reporting relating to high-profile barrister and former Crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen SC.<\/p>\n
He referred to Ms McClymont as a \u201cc***\u201d, a \u201clow breed\u201d, a \u201cb***h\u201d, \u201cpure evil\u201d and a \u201cbottom feeder of the highest order\u201d in text messages, the court was told.<\/p>\n
He also referred to the allegations as a \u201cbulls**t witch hunt\u201d and said it was \u201cbecause it did not happen\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not recall that lunch,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never seen Mr Jones do anything sexually inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The court was told that in one message, the man told Mr Jones: \u201cEveryone who loves you is right behind you and we\u2019re not going anywhere. These people are sick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked who was \u201csick\u201d, the man told the court: \u201cThe people of the left that always hated Mr Jones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, one of C\u2019s friends on Tuesday said the man had told him that Mr Jones had put his hands on his lap and referenced his allegations in conversations.<\/p>\n
He said the man made the claims to him over many years and he never asked him to elaborate.<\/p>\n
At the time they would \u201claugh it off\u201d and it appeared that C was confiding in him, he added.<\/p>\n
The trial will resume on Wednesday.<\/p>\n