Threats to alleged Thorpe attacker: court

A woman charged after firebrand senator Lidia Thorpe was allegedly assaulted outside the MCG earlier this year has been threatened, her lawyer has claimed.

Ebony Jan Bell, 27, appeared remotely in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday just three days after Senator Thorpe alleged she was attacked in a response to questions by The Australian about her parliament attendance.

Ms Bell wore a large grey jacket in what appeared to be a residential home.

Her lawyer, Emanuele Nicolosi, explained that his client was on the video link for the brief mention hearing due to “threats”.

“The reason she’s appearing remotely is there’s ostensibly been threats,” he said, requesting his client be allowed to appear remotely for future hearings.

Police will allege Senator Thorpe was assaulted outside the Dreamtime AFL game between Essendon and Richmond at the MCG on May 25.

Last week, police confirmed Ms Bell was charged with two counts of recklessly causing injury and three of unlawful assault on July 25.

“The woman sustained minor injuries during the incident,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

The Victorian independent senator said she had been “pushed to disclose” details of an alleged neck injury and spinal surgery after she was questioned by The Australian for missing several sitting days of parliament.

“I would have preferred to keep this private, but that’s just another day in the ­colony for you,” she said.

“I was ordered by the doctor not to travel and could not attend parliament … My doctor told me to take time off work.”

In Court, Mr Nicolosi requested an adjournment, saying an offer to resolve the case had been made to the prosecution on Friday and they had not had enough time to review it.

He claimed there were “some real deficiencies” with the allegations.

The court was told only two of the five charges relate to the alleged assault on Senator Thorpe.

The case was adjourned by magistrate Belinda Franjic and will return to court in three weeks.