Jones's butler testifies to greeting athlete with 'slap on the bottom'
David Allan, the broadcaster's former butler of 18 years, describes how Alan Jones welcomed a complainant to his luxury apartment.
What to know
- Jones's former butler testified the broadcaster greeted one athlete complainant with a hug and 'slap on the bottom' as a sports greeting, but said he never witnessed inappropriate conduct.
- The defence countered that Jones regularly greets people with physical gestures and hugs, characterizing his behaviour as normal rather than inappropriate.
- The trial is in its eighth week; Jones faces 21 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching involving five male complainants spanning 2003–2020.
“Well, a man as good looking as you, who wouldn't slap you?”
David Allan, Former butler (to reporter James Wilson) · ABC News ↗
Alan Jones Broadcaster on trialDavid Allan Former butler (18+ years)Clare O'Neill Defence barristerGeorgina Wright Prosecutor
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
-
1
Allan denies seeing inappropriate conduct outside court
When approached by reporters after testifying, Allan said he never witnessed inappropriate behaviour, stating: "I don't see ... I never see anything, I don't hear anything, I don't see anything, I don't say anything."
“I don't see ... I never see anything, I don't hear anything, I don't see anything, I don't say anything.”
— David Allan -
background
Defence barrister suggests Jones's physical expressiveness — Under cross-examination by Clare O'Neill, Allan agreed he did not witness any inappropriate behaviour by Jones toward male athletes. O'Neill suggested Jones would "gesticulate with his hands" when speaking and regularly greet people with a hug.
-
background
Allan defends characterization as common sports greeting — When pressed on his testimony about the slap, Allan said "Probably the wrong thing to say today, isn't it?" and later clarified: "They slap each other, it's what they all do," referring to how sportsmen greet each other.
-
background
Butler describes Jones greeting athlete with 'slap on the bottom' — David Allan, 79, who worked as Jones's butler for over 18 years, testified that the broadcaster would greet a prominent athlete (Complainant M) with "a hug and a slap on the bottom" and call him "champion" during multiple visits to his Circular Quay apartment. Allan recalled the athlete visiting eight or nine times.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
-
first by ABC Australia, 5h ago · also Guardian
1 more headline