Crown prosecutor Paul Stefanovic had called for a custodial sentence for the assault of the guard,who was left with significant bruising after being punched at least six times in the head.
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“It was an egregious act,it was an impulsive act,and it was in a public place,” Stefanovic said.
However,a defiant Sewell insisted he had acted in self-defence.
Sewell and Hersant had attended Channel Nine,which owns this masthead,in an attempt to talk toA Current Affair producers after learning the program was due to air a segment about his group.
After being told producers would not meet them,Hersant began filming Sewell in the foyer,when the security guard advised them they could not film inside the building.
The pair were ushered outside the building,which also housesThe Age offices,before they were asked to move further from the building if they wished to record.
There,camera footage captured Hersant,23,referring to the security guard as a dancing “monkey”.
The security guard then placed his hand on Hersant’s shoulder in an attempt to move him further from the building when Sewell stepped in and struck him repeatedly in the face.
Sewell and the victim then fell to the ground,where the security guard struck his head on the concrete.
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Following the incident,Sewell recorded himself saying:“We haven’t advocated for any terrorist … we advocate for white people.”
When handing down the sentence,Ballek said the attack had traumatised several witnesses.
“Members of the public who witnessed this event were understandably terrified by what they saw … the offending was sickening to watch on video,it would have been worse to watch live,” he said.
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