Media Mistruths About Nazi Hiker Case
In May of 2021 Thomas Sewell leader of the European Australian Movement (EAM) and Jacob Hersant leader of the National Socialist Network (NSN) arrived in the Cathedral Range State Park with another 20 or so members of their organisations which included one individual going by the name of Dave Ryan who was an undercover infiltrator paid for by Channel 9 who also helped fund the trip.
The media reporting of what happened is that Sewell, Hersant along with a mob of 10-15 masked and armed Nazis confronted and threatened 6 random hikers in their cars who started filming them when they discovered that the men were Nazis because they were wearing clothes which had Celtic Cross on them. They smashed their car windows and demanded they hand over their phones. Thomas Sewell and Jacob Hersant were originally charged with armed robbery.
Outside the Court, Thomas Sewell told the assembled mainstream media that these weren’t just some random hikers but a group of “Jewish-Homosexual-Communists” activists who approached Sewell, Hersant and their group and began taking photos of them. According to their own police statement, one of them was so fearful of Sewell’s presence that he pissed his pants (this is not a joke, it really happened).
Sewell claimed they had pre-planned to sabotage their peaceful hike by damaging their cars and running over two 18-year-old members of their organisation before they crashed into a rock trying to flee or run over more of the group. Judge Kellie Blair accepted Sewell and Hersant were not wearing masks or carrying knives.
Sewell told the media that he and his fellow activists had always been respectful to members of the public but would respond to violence and intimidation against them in what they believe is within the realms of the law. Sewell believes his group’s members behaved honourably at all times, are a law-abiding organisation and are looking for political change in Australia and not petty violence or to harm or hurt anyone. These remarks were not featured in any mainstream media report because it wouldn’t fit their narrative that they just attack random members of the public for no reason.
Sewell and Hersant were the only two charged and refused to give up the other members’ names. During the two-and-a-half-year court process police prosecutors had to admit it was unlikely they would secure a conviction of armed robbery which carried a mandatory prison sentence. It was also revealed during the disclosure process that counter-terrorism police filmed the whole incident but due to the judge’s order this footage could not be released due to “public interest immunity” even though the judge claimed this video evidence could help the defence.
After his arrest in May 2021 Thomas Sewell spent seven months in the Charlotte Unit of Port Phillip Prison, which is for the worst of the worst of Victorian criminals including those convicted of murder and terrorism. Charlotte Unit has a 23-hour lockdown daily with only 1 hour of inmates outside of their cell in a cage. Sewell was remanded in part because he was already on bail for the alleged assault on a Channel 9 concierge who Sewell alleged had put his hands on Hersant’s throat. In January this year, Sewell was convicted of recklessly causing injury and affray in relation to that incident and sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order with 150 hours of community service.
Judge Kellie Blair during sentencing submissions agreed that Sewell’s isolation in Port Phillip was punishment enough and he received time served of one month for the violent disorder charge and seven days for breach of bail.
Jacob Hersant an active National Socialist since his teenage years and has two priors for stickering Nazi propaganda received a 2 year Corrections Order with 200 hours of unpaid work (probably removing graffiti).
While Sewell has ended his chapter, Jacob Hersant’s fight might not be over, outside the court Jacob is alleged to have attempted to perform a Nazi salute after saying ‘Heil Hitler’ according to media outlets and Victoria Police. If you haven’t been keeping up with the news the Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Salute Prohibition) Bill 2023 was passed and signed into law in Victoria last week making any symbols or gestures associated with the National Socialist German Workers Party illegal and punishable by up to a year in prison and/or a $23,000 AUD fine.
Victoria Police released a statement last night reading “Victoria Police is investigating after allegations a man performed the Nazi salute and said ‘heil Hitler’ outside a Melbourne court on 27 October. Police will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to any breach on the prohibition on performing Nazi salutes or displaying Nazi symbols in public. We will locate and interview this person in relation to this behaviour”.
The fact that Thomas Sewell and Jacob Hersant weren’t sentenced to additional jail time made the left and mainstream media explode with rage. Channel 9 removed their news report where they called their sentences a mockery of the justice system which was luckily saved by us prior and can be viewed below.
The ABC heavily edited its article since it was first published and news.com.au removed a whole article on the story.
There has also been a deliberate misinterpretation of Judge Kellie Blair’s sentencing remarks that Sewell and Hersant’s prospects for rehabilitation are good. Her honour was not referring to them being rehabilitated from their Nazi ideology as that’s not what they were being sentenced for. The Judge was saying that their prospects for not committing violent disorder again were good.
Also claimed on social media without basis mainly by conservatives is that the pair escaped jail because they are feds. After the Melbourne Let Women Speak event in March this year which Thomas Sewell and the NSN turned up to some conservatives alleged that the NSN were paid actors by Victoria Police used to discredit conservatives. This theory leaves out the fact that Sewell spent seven months on remand in solitary confinement and Jacob Hersant for two and half years was not allowed to associate with Sewell or any members of the NSN and EAM. Plus neither of them snitched on any other members at the incident.