Yarra mayor Stephen Jolly acquitted of assault after Fitzroy protest clash

In a packed Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, magistrate Jill Prior delivered a not-guilty verdict for Yarra mayor Stephen Jolly on a charge of unlawful assault. The case related to a November 1, 2024 gathering on Smith Street, Fitzroy, where community worker Estella Burrows and three companions protested the mayor’s presence. Burrows alleged Jolly punched her in the cheek during a rapid escalation.

While the magistrate agreed that Jolly made contact with Burrows, she concluded the prosecution failed to demonstrate that the act was intentional. A 40-second video, described by both sides as ambiguous, was central to the five-day hearing that featured 16 witnesses. The defence argued any contact was accidental or self-defensive, whereas the prosecution maintained it showed a deliberate punch. The verdict clears Jolly of the assault allegation.