Prosecutors have withdrawn one charge against former radio broadcaster Alan Jones as he prepares to face a blockbuster trial over indecent assault and sexual touching allegations later this year.
Mr Jones, 84, had previously pleaded not guilty to 27 charges — 25 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching — relating to nine alleged victims between 2009 and 2020.
However, the number of charges he will face at trial was reduced in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, as prosecutors discontinued a count of indecent assault relating to one complainant.
“There are proceedings being discontinued, this happened overnight,” Mr Jones’ solicitor Bryan Wrench told the court on Tuesday.
The withdrawn charge concerned an allegation that Mr Jones touched and grabbed the person, identified only as “Complainant K”, on the bottom at an event in Tamworth in 2013. No reason was given in court for the withdrawal.
As a result, Mr Jones will now face charges relating to eight alleged victims when he appears for a Local Court hearing scheduled to begin in August, which is expected to run for four months.
According to court documents, the alleged offences occurred in Sydney, Fitzroy Falls, Kiama, Mittagong, as well as at his work premises and home.
Following his first court appearance in December 2024, Mr Jones strongly denied the allegations. “I have never indecently assaulted these people,” he said at the time. “The law assumes I am not guilty, and I am not guilty. I am emphatic that I’ll be defending every charge before a jury in due course.”
Mr Jones’ matter will return to court next week.
