Police charge woman over alleged assault on Senator Lidia Thorpe outside the MCG
Victorian police have laid charges over an alleged assault on Senator Lidia Thorpe outside an AFL game earlier this year.
Victorian police have charged a 27-year old woman who allegedly assaulted Senator Lidia Thorpe outside an AFL game earlier this year.
The woman, who it is understood was known to Senator Thorpe, was charged with multiple counts of assault over the alleged incident after May’s Dreamtime game between Essendon and Richmond.
A police spokesman told news.com.au that Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives charged a Preston woman with two counts of recklessly causing injury and three counts of unlawful assault.
“Investigators allege that a woman assaulted another woman outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground after an AFL match about 10.30pm,” she said.
“The incident was reported at Melbourne East Police Station on 26 May.
“The woman sustained minor injuries during the incident.”
But Senator Thorpe told The Australian on Thursday night she had been “pushed to disclose” that she sustained a serious spinal injury as a result of an alleged assault at the MCG after questions were raised over her parliamentary attendance.
“Earlier this year I was assaulted at the MCG. I sustained serious nerve and spinal injuries in my neck, which required spinal surgery and a plate to be inserted in the back of my neck,” Senator Thorpe said.
“There’s a scar on the front of my neck from this. I was ordered by the doctor not to travel and could not attend parliament. My doctor told me to take time off work. There is currently a police investigation under way.
“It’s unfortunate that I have been pushed to disclose this to defend myself, when I would have preferred to keep this private, but that’s just another day in the colony for you.”
The accused was bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 28.
The outspoken senator was on Thursday branded “the most loathed woman in parliament” after her controversial outburst this week during Charles’ first visit to Australia since his coronation.
She cried “f*** the colony” and “you are not my king” before being escorted from Parliament House’s Great Hall during a ceremony in Canberra on Monday.
But an unrepentant Senator Thorpe said she wasn’t terribly fussed telling viewers she was “the black sheep” of politics.
“Oh, well, it’s just another day in the colony, Karl. I’m used to that treatment,‘’ she said.
“You know. I am the black sheep of the family, if you like. But I wanted to send a message to the King. I got that message across. The whole world is talking about it.
“And my people are happy because my people have been protesting for decades and decades. As you all know, for exactly this. And so the message has been sent, delivered. Now it’s up to the King of England to respond.”
But Stefanovic responded by suggesting that “the question this morning you were being asked is, why the hell doesn’t Lidia Thorpe just do everyone a favour and get out of Canberra? Will you?.”
“I’m about truth telling. I’m loud, proud, black. Get used to it and listen to what I have to say,‘’ she said.
“We need to grow up as a nation and get rid of him and have our own head of state.”