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The veteran broadcaster is confronting twenty-five charges of indecent acts and an additional two accusations of sexual touching involving a total of nine alleged victims, after the prosecution revealed that two individuals would not be part of the case.

Judicial Proceedings

Jones was expected to be present in the local court on the most recent Thursday to face 44 original allegations of indecent acts involving 11 individuals aged 17 and older. But, Jones was excused to appear during the abbreviated hearing at the court location.

The court was informed that 17 allegations were ultimately dropped and two complainants were not the proceedings.

“We’ve seen a substantial development in Mr Jones’s case,” legal counsel his representative told the court.

Courtroom Pleas

Wrench clarified that his client had filed pleas of not guilty on all of the remaining allegations. The case will move forward in a local court before a magistrate, instead of in the superior court with a judicial jury.

His attorney asked for an 8-week adjournment to address what he called “ongoing” disclosure issues, including reported information releases to the press.

The lawyer mentioned that additional accusations had emerged on earlier that week, and journalists were alerted quickly after his team was notified by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Court Timeline

Sharon Freund at first called the length of the requested delay but finally agreed to the request. The proceedings is scheduled to return on 11 November, with the trial set for next year.

The magistrate heard that the DPP anticipated the hearings would require around 42 days, while the defense suggested it could require up to five months.

“Our court isn’t equipped to manage a extended trial,” Freund remarked, adding that the matter was a “massive drain on already stretched resources.”

Background

The defendant was initially charged with committing a series of acts in multiple locations across New South Wales between 2001 and more recently.

Police formed a special task force in early 2024 to examine claimed indecent assaults and unwanted contact occurrences related to the media figure.

Jones has previously denied all wrongdoing and announced that he was considering legal proceedings against publishers for what he described as “baseless” claims.

He previously appeared in December of last year, when it was proposed that he would stand a jury trial.

“I am absolutely not guilty, and I intend to present my argument to a jury,” Jones commented at the time. “You should be aware … these accusations are all completely unfounded or they distort the truth.”