Sydney lockdown protester labelled ‘Australia’s biggest idiot’

A protester who appeared on the front page of The Sunday Telegraph has been described as “the biggest idiot in Australia” by his own lawyer.

NSW police have tracked down and charged 63 people involved in Saturday’s illegal protests in the CBD.

In the following hours, 35 people were arrested and 16 appeared before the courts on Sunday.

One of the protesters – who appeared on the front page of The Sunday Telegraph – was described by his own lawyer as “the poster boy for the biggest idiot in Australia.”

Nikola Dedovic, 20, travelled from Wollongong to attend the rally, where he allegedly pushed a NSW constable on a pushbike and then ran into the crowd.

Nikola Dedovic is led away by police in Victoria Park in Chippendale on Saturday. Picture: Julian Andrews

Nikola Dedovic. Picture: Instagram

Remon Korkise pleaded not guilty to assaulting an officer, animal cruelty and breaching health orders. Picture: Instagram

The court heard Dedovic attended the rally not because he was politically aligned but because it sounded like a “bit of fun.”

He was granted bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on August 10.

A man who allegedly punched a police horse – captured in a shocking picture from the protest – will remain behind bars, while another protester on similar charges walked on bail.

Kristian Pulkownik, 33, appeared in a short hearing at Parramatta Children’s Court charged with multiple offences including animal cruelty, unlawful assembly and breaching health orders on Sunday.

Appearing via video link wearing a purple jumper, Pulkownik did not apply for bail or enter a plea after being charged for allegedly punching Tobruk the police horse.

Two men were charged for punching police horse Tobruk. Picture: AFP

Another man at the rally, photographer Remon Korkise, 36, pleaded not guilty in court to assaulting an officer, animal cruelty and breaching health orders.

The court heard Korkise attended the protest out of “frustration” as his business had closed.

He will appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on August 9.

Meanwhile, a Liberal Democratic candidate for the seat of Warringah callously said the Sydney rally would be an “experiment” to see whether “corpses would pile up” after protesters marched without masks.

“It was a jam-packed protest and 99 per cent had no masks … so we have conducted an experiment. Will there will be corpses piling up in three weeks from now from Covid?,” John Ruddick said on Twitter.

Mr Ruddick posted continuous videos and updates from the protest, calling NSW Police “bloody scum” and “liars”.

John Ruddick will be fined $1000. Picture: Twitter

They visited him on Sunday, informing him of an incoming $1000 fine for breaching Covid restrictions. He told followers: “No problem – I’ll frame it and put it on the wall”.

Mr Ruddick said a small Australian Christian conservative news website had reported “fairly” on the protest while criticising other media for saying the protest was violent.

“The media is lying. This was the happiest protest imaginable,” he posted.

“People are smiling for the first time. It’s been extremely well attended. Let’s triple it next week.”

Mr Ruddick has been contacted by The Daily Telegraph.

Another anti-lockdown protester was also granted bail, with the court hearing he was under a “misguided delusion” in attending the rally.

Joseph Mekhael was released on bail. Picture: Facebook

Joseph Mekhael, known as “Smokin’ Joe,” appeared by video link from Surry Hills Police Station charged with participating in the rally and breaching bail on Sunday.

The court heard Mekhael, the primary carer for his father who suffers from Alzheimers, lost his job as a Jiu Jiutsu teacher because of the lockdown.

The prosecution argued that bail should be revoked because Mekhael had previously organised rallies, including one for which he was charged in February, and was “in danger” of breaching health orders.

While his lawyer conceded he was “testing his luck,” treating the pandemic with a sort of “misguided contempt” and was under a “misguided delusion” in attending the rally he said he had learnt his lesson.

“The penny has dropped, he understands the right to freedom of speech and assembly needs to be contained in these circumstances,” his lawyer said.

Thousands of mask-less protesters caused chasos in Sydney on Saturday.

The NSW Crime stoppers website and tip line was swamped with information from the public wanting to help catch those involved in the violent clashes, including the attack on a police horse.

“What was very pleasing was 5,500 people provided evidence to police through CrimeStoppers,’’ said NSW Police Minister David Elliot

“As a result many of those 35000 people could be fined,’’ he said.

“Yesterday cannot happen again. NSW Police will not allow violent and illegal gatherings, ‘ he said.

Deputy Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said more than 200 people have been interviewed and he expected many more people will be fined for participating in the event.

He said NSW police were not taken by surprise yesterday at the size of the protest.

“But what surprised us was the unprecedented level of violence involved. There were 350 to 400 officers,’’ he said.

All police who were at the protest are expected to now undergo Covid testing as a precaution with the Deputy Commissioner saying most NSW front line police have been vaccinated.

Police will also use facial recognition technology, Uber records and OPAL ticket data to track down anyone they believe attended the anti-lockdown protests.

“All these tools will be used by investigators,’’ said a police spokesman.

“Plus the public have been given a large number of names of people they recognise or believe they have which will also be looked at,’’ the spokesman said.

Protesters clash with police officers. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Police ahead of the massive demonstration before clashes broke out. Picture: Julian Andrews

Police arrested 57 people at the rally. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told thousands of anti-lockdown protesters who gathered in Sydney’s CBD on Saturday to be “ashamed” of their behaviour.

Ms Berejiklian said she was heartbroken watching 3,500 protesters flouting Covid rules during NSW’s escalating second wave.

“Can I say how absolutely disgusted I was? It broke my heart. Millions and millions of people across our state are doing the right thing, and it just broke my heart that people had such a disregard for their fellow citizens,” she said.

“Each of those people who protested illegally, I’m sure have loved ones. Thank you to all of us doing the right thing and to those of you who aren’t, you should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Ms Berejiklian said the protest had the potential of being a super-spreading event and could prolong the lockdown.

“All of us were absolutely disgusted and disappointed, yesterday, because we know that events like that can cause those super-spreading events, and please know that all of the sacrifices we’ve made over the last three or four weeks in particular have resulted in us being able to stabilise the growth in cases,” she said.

“We don’t want a setback, and yesterday could have been a set back. Time will tell. But I’m just so utterly disgusted, disappointed and heartbroken that people don’t consider the safety and wellbeing of their fellow citizens.”