October 28th 2024.
A woman named Ebony Bell appeared in court today, accused of assaulting independent Senator Lidia Thorpe. The court proceeding took place via video link at the Melbourne Magistrates Court, where Bell faced charges of recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault. The alleged assault occurred at a public event in 2024, according to Senator Thorpe.
The incident in question is said to have taken place outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 25, following the annual Dreamtime at the 'G match between Essendon and Richmond. The police were informed of the alleged assault the next day and Bell, who was 27 at the time, was arrested on July 25. During the court hearing, Bell's lawyer, Emanuele Nicolosi, revealed that an "offer" had been made by the prosecution on Friday, but he hadn't had enough time to fully consider it.
Nicolosi also noted that his client is a Koori woman and was not appearing in person due to recent threats. He argued against Senator Thorpe's name being released as one of the complainants, but Magistrate Belinda Franjic ruled in favor of the media, as the senator had already publicly identified herself. Bell will remain on bail until the case returns to court on November 22.
In previous statements, the police had described Senator Thorpe's injuries as "minor," but she claims to have suffered serious nerve and spinal injuries in her neck. She stated that she had to undergo spinal surgery and have a plate inserted, resulting in a scar on the front of her neck. This injury prevented her from traveling and attending parliament for some time, as per her doctor's orders.
Senator Thorpe also defended her absence from 51 of the 138 Senate sitting days this parliamentary term, stating that she takes her position as an independent senator seriously. She clarified that even when she is not physically present in parliament, she remains engaged with and follows the legislative agenda, ensuring that her voting positions are reflected in the vote outcome through pairing arrangements.
In 2022, Senator Thorpe made international headlines after calling out King Charles during a reception at Parliament House in Canberra. She has faced calls from the coalition to resign from her position in the upper house, but she maintains that she swore an oath of allegiance to the late Queen's "hairs" rather than her heirs when taking her seat.
For those seeking support, there are resources available such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue. Additionally, there is a 24/7 crisis support service run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people called 13YARN. It is important to reach out for help when needed.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
