Neo-Nazi Leader Confronted as Racist Outside Melbourne Court Over Aboriginal Camp Assault
Thomas Sewell, a 32-year-old neo-Nazi leader accused of orchestrating a violent attack on an Aboriginal protest site, was publicly denounced as a racist by a heckler outside Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Sewell and thirteen other men appeared in court to face charges related to the Camp Sovereignty incident, which occurred following an anti-immigration protest in central Melbourne last August.
Allegations of a Coordinated and Brutal Assault
Prosecutors allege that Sewell led a group of men, all dressed in black, who stormed the Indigenous protest camp. The attackers are accused of physically restraining the occupants before subjecting them to kicks and punches. The assault resulted in injuries to three individuals, with one woman requiring staples to close a wound on her scalp, as previously disclosed in court proceedings.
Outside the courthouse, a member of the public directly confronted Sewell over his extremist views, labeling him a racist in a heated exchange that highlighted the community's outrage over the alleged hate-motivated violence.
Legal Proceedings and Defendant Responses
During the hearing, Sewell and five co-accused—Nathan Bull, Timothy Holger Lutze, Augustus Coolie Hartigan, Ryan Williams, and Blake Cathcart—requested an adjournment until March. Sewell's lawyer, Mathew Hopkins, informed the court that resolution discussions with the prosecution were underway, though the specific facts of the case remain contested. The prosecutor noted that the charges themselves were not necessarily in dispute.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Sewell disputed the characterization of the attack as unprovoked, stating, "If we can agree to the facts, then I'm happy to do what's needed to be done. This idea that I just walk around the street punching people for no reason... that's just a lie."
Varied Pleas and Upcoming Court Dates
The legal outcomes for the accused vary significantly:
- Three defendants—Zack Steven Dewaard, Billy Conheady, and Haymish Busscher—formally pleaded not guilty to charges including violent disorder and affray. They are scheduled to face trial in the Victorian County Court, with an initial directions hearing set for March.
- Four others—Jake Crockett, Michael Nelson, Yan Zakharin, and Michael Saarinen—will contest the allegations at a magistrates court committal hearing in May.
- Jaeden Johnson admitted guilt, pleading guilty to charges of violent disorder, assault by kicking, and committing an indictable offence while on bail. He is due for a plea hearing in the County Court in August.
The case continues to draw public attention as it progresses through the legal system, underscoring ongoing tensions around racial violence and protest rights in Australia.
