A woman accused of attacking outspoken Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe at the MCG in May this year is a proud Yorta Yorta woman and Richmond Tigers AFL fan.
Ebony Bell, 27, allegedly attacked the senator after the AFL Dreamtime match between Essendon and Richmond at the MCG on May 25.
On Monday she appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link from her home, where the court heard she was accused of assaulting several people.
Her lawyer, Emanuele Nicolosi, told the court that his client was negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors, which could see her admit to some of the charges against her.
However, it remains unclear whether Bell will admit to attacking Senator Thorpe.
Mr Nicolosi had tried to keep the senator’s name hidden from charge sheets provided to the media, arguing it was unclear when or where his client allegedly attacked Ms Thorpe.
“That particular complainant claims she was the victim of an assault, but she did not necessarily indicate when or where,” he alleged.
Ebony Bell, 27, allegedly attacked Lidia Thorpe during an AFL match
Mr Nicolosi further alleged that his client had been the subject of threats since the allegations became public.
“My client is a Koori woman. The reason she is appearing remotely is because there have been some threats recently,” he said.
A statement from Victoria Police last week revealed Bell was charged with two counts of reckless wounding and three counts of unlawful assault.
“Detectives from the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit have charged a woman following an alleged assault in East Melbourne on May 25,” a police spokeswoman said at the time.
‘Investigators allege a woman assaulted another woman outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground following an AFL match at around 10.30pm.
“The incident was reported to Melbourne East Police Station on May 26.
‘The woman suffered minor injuries during the incident.
‘Police arrested a 27-year-old Preston woman in Preston on July 25.
The case is expected to return to court on November 22, where the outcome of these negotiations is likely to be made clear.
On Monday, Ebony Jane Bell appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link from her home
Senator Lidia Thorpe claimed she was brutally attacked at the MCG earlier this year, causing serious back injuries. Victoria Police said a 27-year-old woman has been charged with assault
Bell’s bail was extended until the date she is due to appear again via videolink.
Senator Thorpe subsequently revealed details of the alleged attack on Friday The Australian asked why she had missed a third of the court days due to her absences.
“Earlier this year I was attacked at the MCG,” Ms Thorpe told the publication.
‘I suffered serious nerve and spinal injuries in my neck, which required spinal surgery and a plate inserted in my neck.
‘I have a scar on the front of my neck because of this. I was ordered by the doctor not to travel and could not attend parliament. My doctor told me to take time off work. A police investigation is currently underway.
“It’s a shame that I’ve been forced to make this public to defend myself when I would have preferred to keep this private, but that’s just another day in the colony for you.”
Last year, her absenteeism from parliament was even worse, when she attended only 38 of the 66 sitting days.
She explained that this was because the Australian Federal Police advised her to stay home due to “serious far-right threats.”
“Delays in the security assessment and plan by Parliament and the AFP meant that I could not travel safely to Parliament for months,” the senator said.