By Holly Tregenza and Ethan Rix for ABC
Alan Jones arrives at court in Sydney where he faced another eight charges. Photo: ABC / Ethan Rix
Alan Jones's lawyer has told a Sydney court the veteran broadcaster will plead not guilty to a total of 34 charges relating to alleged indecent assault and sexual touching incidents spanning two decades.
Eight new assault with act of indecency charges relating to a tenth complainant were laid against Jones in court on Wednesday.
The charges now include 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 19 counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault.
Last month the 83-year-old was charged by the Child Abuse Squad with a total of 26 offences against nine victims.
Facing Downing Centre Local Court, Jones successfully had his bail varied with his lawyer telling the magistrate his client intended to fight the charges through a court trial.
He will now be permitted to temporarily stay somewhere other than his home address in Circular Quay while on bail if he gives police at least 72 hours' notice.
During the hearing, Jones sat at the front of the packed court room with his legs crossed and his walking cane leaning against his leg.
His lawyer, Bryan Wrench, told NSW chief magistrate Judge Michael Allen that Jones welcomed the opportunity for the case to be heard by a jury of 12 in the District Court.
Wrench indicated that his client will be formally entering a plea of not guilty to all 34 charges.
No pleas have formally been entered at this stage and Jones has not been committed to stand trial.
The court heard the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution is yet to hand Jones and his legal team the brief of evidence.
Alan Jones and solicitor Bryan Wrench arrive at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court. Photo: ABC / Sarah Gerahty
Jones breaks his silence
Upon leaving the court, Jones told media he was not guilty and he would be defending every charge against him.
"Firstly, let me say this: I am certainly not guilty and I'll be presenting my account to a jury as you heard this morning," he said.
"I will not be engaging in a running commentary in the media. But, I want you to understand this: these allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth and you should know that prior to my arrest I was given no opportunity by police to answer any of these allegations.
"I have never indecently assaulted these people. The law assumes that I am not guilty and I am not guilty. That's all I can say at the moment, but I am emphatic that I'll be defending every charge before a jury in due course."
After speaking outside court, Jones was again surrounded by a large media frenzy and was heckled by members of the public before he made his way to a waiting car.
He has been excused from appearing in person for his next court appearance with the matter adjourned until 11 March.
Jones's lawyers had already indicated they will fight the charges and declared his innocence, setting the scene for a potentially lengthy legal battle.
Alan Jones said as he left the court that he would defend every charge. Photo: ABC / Ethan Rix
Details of fresh allegations in court documents
Court documents have revealed details about eight fresh charges laid against Jones on Wednesday stemming from allegations made by a tenth complainant.
The broadcaster was charged with committing eight acts of indecency on the complainant between 2003 and 2004 including allegedly kissing the complainant on the mouth and squeezing his penis.
Court documents allege Jones touched the complainant's penis with his own while squeezing the alleged victim's bottom at Fitzroy Falls in 2004.
Lawyer Chris Murphy previously told media that his client denies any misconduct and would "assert his innocence" in court.
Jones has been on police bail after being arrested on 18 November after a nine-month-long investigation by NSW detectives into alleged incidents from 2001 to 2019.
NSW police said he knew some of the alleged victims personally and professionally, and the youngest complainant was aged 17 years old when the alleged offences occurred.
The most serious charge he faces is aggravated indecent assault, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment for each alleged offence.
-ABC