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Magistrate Jill Prior dismissed an assault charge against Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly, ruling the prosecution could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that he intentionally struck protester Estella Burrows at a 2024 election afterparty.
Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly has been acquitted of assaulting a protester at his 2024 election afterparty. Magistrate Jill Prior dismissed the charge on Friday, finding the prosecution could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Jolly intended to strike Estella Burrows.
The incident occurred at Ziggy's Disco Lounge in Fitzroy on November 1, 2024, in front of about 50 people. Protesters wearing Halloween masks and carrying a megaphone arrived uninvited and confronted Jolly. Magistrate Prior said she was satisfied Jolly made contact with Burrows' face.
Magistrate Rules Incident Was Not Intentional
However, she ruled the act was not proven to be intentional or outside self-defence, citing the chaotic nature of the event. The magistrate said the incident unfolded during a chaotic series of events lasting between 30 seconds and a minute. She noted multiple parties converged across a very small space. Phone footage taken by one of the gatecrashers was shown in court and partially captured the scuffle.
A protester named Peaches McCormack is heard in the clip making unproven allegations against Jolly. Another woman can be heard shouting Stephen Stop it as a dancefloor melee broke out. Burrows testified that Jolly moved quickly toward her and struck the left side of her face with significant force. I thought we would probably be evicted from the venue.
I didn't expect to be punched in the face though, Burrows told the court. In a police interview, Jolly denied punching anyone. His lawyers argued that even if Burrows was struck, it would have been accidental or in self-defence. Barrister Michael McGrath said Jolly had faced a prolonged political campaign, including an egg cracked on his head at a rally 13 months earlier.
Character References Provided For Mayor
The veteran councillor did not give evidence at the hearing. Character references were provided on his behalf, including by academic Jacinta Chavulak, who said she was at the venue and felt really scared when masked protesters confronted Jolly. Chavulak said she had known Jolly for two decades and had never seen him commit or threaten violence. Jolly was elected mayor of Yarra less than three weeks after the incident.
He hugged and embraced supporters in the small courtroom when the decision was announced. Outside court, Burrows, who wore a headscarf and a jumper with an anti-police slogan, called the legal process ridiculous. Obviously I'm disappointed about the verdict but to be honest I'm not surprised, she said. Jolly addressed the media on the steps of the court and insisted he did not punch Burrows.
Mayor Criticizes Protesters And Sexual Assault Claims
He said his only regret was not hiring security for the event. Jolly said he had been targeted by the same group of protesters for years and described their sexual assault claims against him as bullshit. I just choose to ignore it and get on with life and try and be positive. My heart is filled with love and not hate, he said.
The acquittal followed a five-day hearing with multiple witnesses and conflicting interpretations of the recorded altercation.
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abcnews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Stephen Jolly Yarra Mayor Unlawful Assault Election Celebration Protester Self-Defense Magistrate Jill Prior Melbourne Magistrates' Court Assault Acquittal Estella Burrows Ziggy's Disco Lounge
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