Incident Overview
Melissa Rein Lively, a Donald Trump-supporting influencer and public relations executive, has admitted to assaulting a woman by pulling her hair at Bond Street Underground station in London.
The incident occurred on the evening of 11 October and was reported by the victim. Rein Lively, aged 40, accepted a conditional caution, while a charge of assault by beating against her was withdrawn, as heard at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Rein Lively was not present at the court hearing.
Details of the Case
Rein Lively's partner, Philipp Ostermann, who was with her at the station, denied two racially aggravated public order offences and an additional public order offence. Ostermann was released on conditional bail pending further proceedings.
Prosecutor Lyndon Harris informed the court that Rein Lively's "admission to the conduct alleged against her" constitutes an offence. Rein Lively agreed to pay £910 in compensation, which was paid to the victim on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Ostermann, a 37-year-old German national, is scheduled to appear at City of London Magistrates' Court on 17 November for trial.
Sequence of Events at Bond Street Station
The court heard that the victim was accompanied by her sister and two children, one of whom was in a pushchair, as they walked towards Bond Street station.
Ostermann and Rein Lively were ahead of them and appeared to be kissing. Both individuals seemed intoxicated, the court was told.
The prosecution stated that Rein Lively appeared to stumble into the pushchair, prompting the woman to push back with it.
"You bloody Indians, watch where you're going, you shouldn't be here,"
Ostermann allegedly said following this incident.
One of the women responded by stating that Rein Lively had fallen over her sister's pushchair, clarifying that they were not Indian and instructing him to stop being racist, the court heard.
Subsequently, Rein Lively grabbed one of the sisters by the hair and tugged it "in a forceful manner."
Background of the Individuals Involved
Melissa Rein Lively is the founder of America First Public Relations, a firm that describes itself as an "anti‑woke" PR company. Philipp Ostermann serves as associate director at Munich-based private equity company Aequita.
Additional Information
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