A woman, Ebony Bell, has appeared in a Melbourne court charged with assaulting Australian Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe, who gained international attention for shouting at King Charles during a royal reception last week. Bell, 28, was charged with two counts of recklessly causing injury and three counts of unlawful assault at a stadium, allegedly occurring on May 25 when both women attended an Australian Rules football match in Melbourne. Senator Thorpe described her injuries as “serious nerve and spinal injuries in my neck, which required spinal surgery and a plate to be inserted”.
The motive behind the alleged attack was not disclosed in court, and Bell’s lawyer, Manny Nicolosi, stated that the prosecution case had “real deficiencies”. Bell is free on bail and will appear in court again on November 22. Senator Thorpe, known for her high-profile protest actions, recently launched an expletive-laden rant at Charles during a reception in Australian Parliament House in Canberra, calling him “not our king” and accusing him of committing genocide against Indigenous Australians.
The incident has sparked controversy, with the main opposition party calling for Senator Thorpe to resign from the Senate due to her attitude towards the king. Senator Thorpe has, however, maintained her innocence and stated that she would not be commenting on the matter further. She has previously been banned from a Melbourne strip club and has been known to engage in provocative protest actions.
Senator Thorpe’s injuries from the alleged assault were described as “minor” by police, but she has disputed this, claiming that she sustained serious injuries that required spinal surgery and a plate to be inserted. The court case has drawn widespread attention in Australia, with many questioning the severity of Senator Thorpe’s injuries and the motivations behind the alleged attack.
