A beautician who went viral after an exchange with police at a Covid checkpoint has faced court remotely after coming down with the virus.
Natalie Bonett returned before the Victorian County Court on Monday for judicial monitoring on charges stemming from a roadside intercept in November 2020.
She appeared remotely wearing a white robe, weakly smiling and coughing throughout the hearing.
The court was told Bonett had been placed on a bail program in February after pleading guilty to reckless conduct endangering serious injury and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
The program, called the court integrated services program (CISP), aims to reduce the risk of reoffending by enabling access to support services over a lengthy period of time.
A video of Bonnet went viral in October 2020 after she shared footage of her being physically dragged from a vehicle at a Covid checkpoint north of Melbourne.
She later posted photos online showing bruises she said she sustained during the confrontation.
The charges stemmed from a second incident the following month, where Bonett had another confrontation with two officers in Brunswick West, the Herald Sun reported.
On November 9, she lashed out at police during a roadside intercept and endangered other motorists by throwing a tyre deflation device onto the freeway.
The court heard expert evidence that during the November incident, Bonett was in the throws of a panic attack and likely had little conscious control over her reflexes.
In court, Bonnet thanked Judge Duncan Allen for placing her on the bail program that she described as “wonderful”.
“I’m very glad I had the opportunity to do that,” she said.
“Now my mental health is back on track, I’m filling out my time with study and physical activity.”
Senior counsellor Libby Svendsen said she was “happy with her progress”.
The court was told Judge Allen had adjourned her sentencing on the charges to give Bonnet a chance to avoid a criminal record and access mental health support.
Previously, he told Bonnet if she successfully completed the program then she was likely to be released on a good behaviour bond.
“The two reports tell me you’re doing well, committed to treatment and accepting the opportunity to engage on CISP,” he said.
“You‘re a good example of what can be achieved.”
Bonnet will return to court in August.