A 28-year-old woman, Ebony Bell, has appeared in court in Melbourne, charged with two counts of recklessly causing injury and three counts of unlawful assault following an alleged attack on Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe in May. The assault allegedly occurred on May 25, when Thorpe attended a Australian Rules football match in Melbourne. Bell’s lawyer, Manny Nicolosi, told the court that the prosecution’s case had “real deficiencies” and that he had not had enough time to consider an offer made by the prosecution. Bell remains free on bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on November 22.
The motive for the alleged attack was not explained in court, but it is believed that the two women knew each other. Thorpe has been vocal about her views on the British royal family and the country’s treatment of Indigenous Australians. In a recent incident, she launched an expletive-laden rant at King Charles during a reception in Australian Parliament House in Canberra, where she called him “not our king” and accused the British monarchy of committing genocide against Indigenous Australians.
Thorpe has a history of high-profile protest action, and has been banned from a Melbourne strip club after a video emerged of her shouting abuse at male patrons. She has also been critical of the British monarchy and has refused to refer to the then-monarch as “the colonising Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”.
The alleged assault on Thorpe has left her with serious nerve and spinal injuries, which required spinal surgery and the insertion of a plate. In a statement to the Associated Press, Thorpe said she had sustained these injuries in her neck, which have impacted her ability to travel and attend parliament.
Bell’s lawyer has cited recent threats against his client as the reason for her appearing in court via video link, but did not provide further details. The magistrate agreed to allow Bell to appear again by video and released her on bail until her next court appearance on November 22.
