“Nearly did it,” he said. “It’s illegal now,isn’t it?” he said,laughing and lowering his arm.
Sewell and Hersant weresentenced in the County Court on Friday after pleading guilty to violent disorder against three bushwalkers who filmed the pair’s group as they gathered at the Cathedral Range State Park at Taggerty in May 2021.
During the sentencing,Judge Kellie Blair said the pair were both young fathers who had little prior contact with the criminal justice system and their offending was at the lower end of the spectrum.
Blair said she believed the prospects of rehabilitation for the pair were good.“Good luck with the future gentlemen,” she added as she left the bench.
The Summary Offences (Nazi Salute Prohibition) Bill received royal assent last Friday,which means it has been illegal to undertake a Nazi salute in Victoria for just a week.
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This is the first report of an alleged Nazi salute to police since the new legislation came into effect on October 21.
The decision to strengthen the anti-vilification laws was made after a far-right protest at Parliament House in March was attended by members of the National Socialist Network,whoperformed Nazi salutes on parliament’s steps before being led away by police.
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