During a recent court hearing, prosecutor Sam Lubner detailed an incident involving Potier, who had been attending a show inspired by the music of the rock band Queen alongside his partner, theatre critic Lizzie Loveridge. The situation escalated after O’Donnell and a friend began singing at the venue, prompting Loveridge to respond sharply with a profanity and tell them to “shut up.”

O’Donnell described Loveridge’s reaction as “rude,” which led Potier to confront her directly. He warned, “I’ll show you what rude is,” before launching an attack that, according to court testimony, lasted only a few seconds. Following the incident, authorities were able to locate Potier and Loveridge by tracking the business card Loveridge had previously given to O’Donnell. Potier was subsequently arrested in November 2023.

Although O’Donnell did not sustain any physical injuries, she informed the judge that since the assault, she has become “more wary” of her surroundings and “far more conscious” of her “physical safety.” She expressed a desire to be a role model for the young women and girls in her life, stating, “I want to set an example for the young women and girls in my life, that this sort of behaviour is not acceptable.”

During the trial, O’Donnell recounted hearing Potier “laughing” outside the court, confident that he would avoid imprisonment due in part to his age. However, the judge was made aware of Potier’s violent past, including a six-year prison sentence in 2002 for inciting the murder of his former partner in Australia, and an additional 12-year sentence in 2006 for attempting to arrange her murder once more

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