Thorpe MCG Assault Details Revealed After Court Lifts Suppression

Ebony Bell was handed a community work order for assaulting independent Senator Lidia Thorpe outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2024. The assault occurred following claims that Senator Thorpe had disrespected Bell's mother. Melbourne Magistrates Court heard in June that Bell was initially ordered to complete an anger management course after the initial attack.

However, Bell committed a second "gratuitous act of violence" while she was on bail for the first offense. The court did not specify the details of this second incident. The suppression order on the details of the assault was lifted by the court, allowing for the specifics of the case to be publicly reported.

Bell's conviction and sentencing follow a period of public scrutiny regarding the safety of public figures and the justice system's response to violent incidents. The outcome of the case, including the community work order, aims to address Bell's actions while acknowledging the severity of the assaults.