Overview
- British Transport Police, which announced the charges Friday, said Melissa Rein Lively, 40, faces one count of assault by beating and Philipp Ostermann, 37, faces two racially aggravated public order offenses and a further public order offense.
- Police say the case stems from an October 11, 2025 incident at Bond Street station after a stroller collision, when a man allegedly shouted racial abuse, a woman allegedly grabbed the victim’s hair, and a small bottle described as pepper spray was sprayed toward a family with children.
- The pair are due at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 19, a first appearance that typically covers initial pleas, bail, and whether the case stays in the magistrates’ court or moves to a higher court.
- Lively is a pro-Trump PR executive who founded America First PR, and Ostermann is an associate director at Munich-based private equity firm Aequita.
- Pepper spray is illegal in the United Kingdom, providing legal context to the allegation that a spray was used during the confrontation.