Fellow shock jock Jason Morrison has told the Alan Jones trial that guests at a luncheon hosted by the 2GB breakfast presenter were joking that Jones and a young staffer “look like a great couple” as the pair sat next to each other at a Sydney restaurant. Morrison, who often filled in for Jones, told the court a fellow guest made the “sarcastic” remark about the two men at the event on the lower north shore 20 years ago. Jones has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching against six complainants.
Morrison is the third witness to be called to give evidence about the lunch so far. An alleged victim, known as complainant C, earlier told the court that Jones had instructed him to sit next to him at the long table and spent the entire lunch with his left hand under the table and either on his leg or on his penis over his pants. Asked by prosecutor Georgina Wright whether he heard any jokes made about C, Morrison said the theme of the banter was: “Sucked in … you’re with him for the whole lunch.
You could have been sitting with us. Said sarcastically, you know.” Wright: “Could you see [C’s] face around that time?” Morrison: “Probably would have. Could have, but I don’t recall anything about it.” Morrison told the court he had a good working relationship with Jones but didn’t spend much time with him as they all worked “hideous hours”.
Morrison said at some stage he observed Jones had his arm around [C]’s shoulder “in the manner that people do when they’re talking about somebody”. He observed Jones’s hand was under the table but that he couldn’t see under the table. Another witness said he didn’t see anything inappropriate happen at the restaurant or hear any comments about any alleged inappropriate behaviour.
Morrison’s recollection of the name of the restaurant and the year in which the lunch took place differed to that of other witnesses. The court adjourned early to deal with a legal issue between the parties, judge Glenn Walsh said.
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