Yarra mayor charged with unlawful assault

Prominent inner-city mayor Stephen Jolly has been charged with assault over an incident that occurred when masked gatecrashers appeared at his election after-party in 2024.

Jolly told The Age he had been emailed a summons for a single charge of assault over the November 2024 event on Tuesday and would plead not guilty.

“Because of legal restrictions, there’s no more I’m allowed to say, but I am not going to be diverted from my work representing the people of Yarra,” he told The Age. “I will be vigorously defending myself.”

In a further statement released on Tuesday, Jolly linked the gatecrashers to another incident two years ago, claiming he was “physically attacked by a masked group at a public housing rally in Collingwood”. The Age witnessed and photographed women egging Jolly at that rally.

“They brazenly posted a video of the incident online,” his statement read. “We reported the attack to the police but nothing happened.

“Last year, our election celebration party was gatecrashed by masked intruders carrying objects. We reported that incident to the police and again nothing happened.

“Now, almost a year on, the masked intruders of our celebration party have gone to the police to get me charged with ‘unlawful assault’.

“As this matter may go before a court, there are legal restrictions about what I can say other than I am totally innocent and look forward to vigorously defending myself.”

The Age reported at the time that masked intruders had gatecrashed the long-time councillor’s post-election party at a venue on Smith Street in Fitzroy, with video showing an altercation between the group and party attendees.

The footage, which has circulated on social media and was sent to The Age, has been verified by The Age as being taken at the party. The Age cannot show the video for legal reasons.

The masked group of at least three people can be seen in the footage. One shouts allegations about Jolly that The Age cannot repeat for legal reasons. Nor has The Age been able to establish any basis for the allegations.

Jolly’s supporters can then be heard yelling “get out” to the group. The footage shows a scuffle out of frame involving the masked people. A female voice can be heard yelling, “Stephen, stop it”.

This masthead has not been able to verify the identity of the masked people, nor those who filmed or circulated the footage.

Jolly, a former Victorian Socialist turned independent councillor, also appeared on radio station 3AW on Wednesday calling the group who egged him at the Collingwood as “masked crazies”.

“My lawyer will cut my fingers off if I say what I want to say,” he told host Jacqui Felgate.

Victoria Police confirmed a 63-year-old man had been charged on summons over an incident on November 1, 2024, on Smith Street, Fitzroy after receiving complaint on August 9 this year.

Jolly will face Melbourne Magistrates court on March 18 next year.

The charge of unlawful assault carries a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment and does not meet the criteria for a “serious offence” under the Local Government Act 2020, meaning Jolly is not automatically stood down and can remain as mayor.

A Yarra Council spokesman said the council would not comment.

With Rachel Eddie

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