Mayor allegedly punched protester ‘without hesitation’
A prominent mayor was filled with rage when he allegedly punched a community activist at his post-election party, a court has heard.
Stephen Jolly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault.
The mayor of Yarra City, whose inner-city council covers Richmond and Collingwood, is accused of attacking Estella Burrows after she and two other masked intruders crashed Jolly’s post-election party in Fitzroy on November 1, 2024.
It was said that at least 14 witnesses and medical experts would be called to testify in the contentious four-day hearing on the issue.
Prosecutor Laura Zubrecky told the court the trio, one carrying a megaphone and the other carrying a banner, arrived at the event, were then chanted slogans and asked to leave.
One member was heard calling Jolly a “prolific domestic abuser” in a video posted on social media.
“The defendant approached the group and the prosecution alleges the defendant punched (Ms) Burrows with his right hand and struck her in the left side,” Ms Zubrecky said.
“The group was removed from the venue shortly afterwards.”
Defense lawyer Michael McGrath told the court the evidence could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jolly assaulted the victim.
Mr McGrath said if the court found his client made contact, it was in self-defence during a “rapidly escalating fight”.
Jolly, who remains mayor of the inner city council, notified police of the group’s arrival that night.
Ms Burrows formally reported the alleged assault to police 10 months later.
The woman, who testified Monday, said the trio went to the meeting with the intention of protesting peacefully and to draw attention to Jolly’s re-election and his allegations of violence and mistreatment of women.
Ms Burrows said they brought masks, including an Egyptian mummy mask bought from a supermarket, as they did not want their faces to be captured and shared in a video online.
When the activist entered, he said, he planned to unfurl a banner, another spoke into a megaphone, and a third filmed the interaction.
Ms Burrows told the court that was when Jolly allegedly punched her in the face.
“He advanced towards me in extreme haste… without hesitation, without any warning, he punched me,” he told the court.
“I think his shirt pocket was open and he was full of anger.”
The hearing will continue on Tuesday.
