Ebony Jan Bell: Threats made against woman accused of assaulting senator Lidia Thorpe, court told

A woman charged after senator Lidia Thorpe was allegedly assaulted at the MCG has received “threats”, her lawyer has told a 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, 28, 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.

Ebony Bell has been charged with assault offences. Picture: Supplied

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.

Its alleged the two women were known to each other.

Senator Lidia Thorpe is the alleged victim. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The independent Victorian 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.”

The incident allegedly unfolded outside the MCG. Picture: NewsWire/Nadir Kinani

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.

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 two of the five charges relate to the alleged assault on Senator Thorpe.

In charge sheets released by the court, police will allege Ms Bell assaulted Senator Thorpe alongside two others, whose names were not released, on May 25 in East Melbourne.

She is further accused of recklessly causing injury to two individuals, one of whom was Senator Thorpe.

Senator Thorpe said she had been advised not to travel by a doctor after surgery. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

Mr Nicolosi cast doubt over whether the alleged injuries disclosed by Senator Thorpe were related to the alleged offences his client had been charged over.

“The alleged victim of the assault did not nominate when or where … only a very oblique reference to an (alleged) assault,” he said.

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

Originally published as Ebony Jan Bell: Threats made against woman accused of assaulting senator Lidia Thorpe, court told