Thomas Sewell: Neo-Nazi leader walks free on bail after alleged attack on Camp Sovereignty
Australian neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell has been freed on bail after 72 days behind bars following an alleged attack on an Indigenous site.
Australian neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell has been freed on bail after 72 days behind bars following an alleged attack on an Indigenous site.
Mr Sewell, 32, returned before the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday as Justice James Elliott found there were compelling reasons to justify him being freed.
The National Socialist Network leader has been behind bars since his arrest on September 2 outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court where he was fighting unrelated matters.
He walked free from court about three hours later, with a group of pro-Palestine protesters heard calling out “Nazi” from across the street.
He was charged with 25 offences relating to his alleged involvement in a violent attack on Camp Sovereignty, an Indigenous protest and cultural site, in King’s Domain after anti-immigration rallies on August 31.
At least three people at the camp are alleged to have suffered physical injuries when 30 black-clad men stormed the area.
Mr Sewell alleges Camp Sovereignty was used as a “staging ground” to launch attacks on his group during the protests, the court was told.
The court was told 14 others had been charged over the incident at Camp Sovereignty, with each being granted bail.
He is also facing allegations he assaulted a man during a neo-Nazi march involving about 200 members in Melbourne’s CBD shortly after midnight on August 9.
Mr Sewell was granted bail after his long-term fiancee agreed to stump up a $20,000 surety and he committed to following strict bail conditions.
Outlining the bail application, Justice Elliot said Mr Sewell had relied on a number of factors to prove there were compelling reasons he should be released.
These included, he said, the likelihood that any sentence imposed would be less than the time spent on remand, financial hardship on his young family and how being in custody would impact his ability to prepare a defence.
The court was told Mr Sewell collects a $1000 per fortnight stipend from the group he leads, and his partner had been left unable to work and relying on rent assistance and family tax benefits while he was on remand.
Justice Elliott said the Crown had alleged, but failed to prove, he was an unacceptable risk of placing the community at risk.
The judge said Mr Sewell was the national leader of the National Socialist Network, which police alleged were neo-Nazis with a “demonstrated history of hate crimes and violence”.
On the other hand, he said the accused man described the group as a right-wing political party advocating for a return to the White Australia policy.
Mr Sewell has been released on 10 conditions including not attending the CBD other than for legal or medical reasons, obeying a curfew and not associating with co-accused.
He will return to court next month.
Originally published as Thomas Sewell: Neo-Nazi leader walks free on bail after alleged attack on Camp Sovereignty
