Neil Erikson Avoids Jail over Milo Event Clash
Patriot activist Neil Erikson has avoided a custodial sentence after being found guilty of affray and assault with a weapon during a clash with leftist activists when attending the Milo Yiannopoulos speaking event on 4th December 2017.
The clash occurred after 6pm that evening and in the days after resulted in seven patriots being arrested and three leftists being arrested. Five patriots were charged with offences that included affray, assault and behaving in a riotous manner. They became known as the Milo 5. Ricky Turner and Erikson were banned from associating with each until bail conditions were changed in June last year.
Dwayne McKenzie and Garry Hume received diversions last year, while last month Richie Whelan had his charges dropped. On the Monday when the trial was scheduled to begin, Ricky Turner accepted a plea deal of a $1,000 fine and a 12-month good behaviour bond.
Erikson rejected a plea and went to trial that afternoon, represented by patriot lawyer John Bolton who had traveled from Adelaide for the trial, for which four days had been set aside at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
Bolton argued that Erikson’s actions were in self-defence as the patriots walked unsuspectingly into a gap in the police line when on their way to the event.
Erikson’s conduct included using a Trump flag to lightly hit a man Turner was involved in scuffle with. The self-defence argument was rejected by the Magistrate. While found guilty of affray and assault, the charge for behaving in a riotous manner was not proven.
Erikson received a 120-hour community corrections order to be served over 12 months, with a conviction recorded. Erikson has stated he will not appeal and is glad this process is over. He still maintains he was the victim of selective policing as none of the Africans who rioted after the event began were arrested and charged.
Other legal matters outstanding for Erikson include an arrest warrant in New South Waves for preventing a clergyman from discharging his duties, when he invaded the Gosford Anglican Church to confront progressive Priest Fr Rod Bower over his activism in 2018.
He also may face the same charge for interrupting Friday Islamic prayers at Federation Square last month where he was detained by Victorian Police for breach of the peace.
He also invaded a meeting of the Metropolitan Community Church on Sunday evening to confront them over their support for same-sex marriage. The confrontation was broadcast on his Senator Slayer channel and filmed by YouTuber Dia Beltran.
Patriot lawyer John Bolton will be back in Melbourne next month before the County Court representing another patriot activist, Blair Cottrell, in his appeal of his conviction in 2017 for breaching Victoria’s Racial and Religious Tolerance Act. This was over the Bendigo mock Islamic beheading in 2015. Neil Erikson and Christopher Shortis were found guilty at the same trial.
There is still another trial over the Milo clash, for a leftist activist, next month. But this closes the book for the patriots involved after a legal process that has taken nearly 18 months.
