Ray Hadley expected to be star witness at Alan Jones trial

Former radio host Alan Jones is expected to hear testimony against him from former 2GB colleague Ray Hadley in court today.

The court has been told that Hadley will be the next witness to testify, after Jones’ former producer, James Willis, News24 reports.

Jones, 85, was once one of Australia's most successful and popular radio identities. Now, he faces a trial after 20 charges for indecent assault and two for sexual touching from six complainants were brought against him. 

The complainants claim they were indecently assaulted by Jones between 2003 and 2020. Jones has denied all allegations.

The trial is expected to run for four months and hear from 76 witnesses - including radio guru Hadley, whom Jones was at one time working with for the same employer.

Hadley will be questioned in particular about one man, who can only be known as Complainant C. That person has already told the court that Jones repeatedly kissed him and touched him on the penis on the outside of his clothing.

During his evidence to the court last month, C said he broke down while confiding his allegations to Hadley in October 2019.

 

 

 

 

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C said: “I said, ‘You know we joke a bit about it, but you know some of the stuff [Jones] did to me was quite f---ed up."

C explained to the court that he shared the alleged assaults to then-2GB host Hadley, when they learned that journalist Peter FitzSimons was doing a story on similar allegations against Jones.

“Ray just listened. I just broke down sobbing. I said, ‘He’s a f--ing c---’.”

“It was the first time I’d ever broken down talking about it, and Ray just listened,” C said.

“He offered to go with me to the police and I said, ‘No, I don’t want to do anything like that’.”

C testified that Hadley agreed not to tell anyone and suggested he speak to a psychologist.

Ray Hadley to be questioned on Alan Jones

The court heard this week that by 2019, relations between Hadley and Jones were strained at the station.

Willis, a senior producer for Jones’ breakfast show, gave evidence on Monday that in 2019, Hadley asserted to colleagues that he had signed a contract to take over Jones’ breakfast slot.

“My understanding is Mr Hadley had signed a secret contract to replace Mr Jones while Mr Jones was coming off contract,” Willis said.

“And while this was meant to be a secret, it had spread throughout the corridors enough that our team, including Mr Jones, had been aware of it.”

Ray Hadley to address ‘Complainant C’ accusations

‘Complainant C’ has accused the radio presenter of lavishing him with unwanted attention, kissing and sexually touching him, while calling him “donkey”, in reference to the size of his penis.

‘Complainant C’ allegedly grew increasingly distressed about the encounters and made a number of partial disclosures to colleagues, including Hadley, who hosted the top-rating show that followed Jones’ program each weekday.