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Racist scenes inside court as neo-Nazi ring leader fights allegations he punched a security guard and called him a “monkey”
- Thomas Sewell, 29, allegedly assaulted a Channel 9 security guard in March 2021
- Sewell told the guard to ‘monkey dance’ before he allegedly punched the man.
- He claimed that A Current Affair described his group as a terrorist organization.
- White supremacist confronted Melbourne Magistrates Court to plead not guilty
Right-wing leader Thomas Sewell told a security guard to “dance the monkey” before he allegedly punched the man outside the Nine Network building.
Sewell, 29, a leader of the European Australian Movement, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to assault, brawl and recklessly causing serious injury over the March 2021 incident.
Some of Sewell’s supporters, who were watching the case remotely, were asked to turn on their video cameras.
One said asking him to show his face was “abuse because you wouldn’t ask a Muslim to remove his burqa” and another used a background photo of the Hitler Youth.
Thomas Sewell (pictured) pleaded not guilty to assault, brawl and reckless injury
Supporters of the white supremacist sparked racist scenes in court when they were asked to turn on their cameras while watching the case remotely.
Sewell is accused of repeatedly hitting a security guard over the head outside the Nine Network headquarters in Melbourne on March 1.
He visited the office with a cameraman to speak with senior executives just hours before A Current Affair aired a segment with Sewell, on neo-Nazi groups.
He claimed that the ACA was proving that his group was a terrorist organization and said that he had not been contacted due to the right of reply.
Video of Sewell inside the building speaking into the camera was shown to the court, along with CCTV footage of the fight.
“This is called investigative journalism but when someone dares to investigate these people they hide like cowards in their offices,” he said in the clip.
The security guard then approaches and puts his hand over the camera lens, motioning for the two men to leave.
He told the court that he showed Sewell and the cameraman a white line outside the office where they were allowed to film, but instead they filmed near the door.
They eventually got back together and he believed the incident had died down.
But then he alleged that Sewell started playing the song Dance Monkey from Tones and I and told the guard “the monkey is dancing.”
Sewell called security guard ‘monkey’, allegedly beaten by King in March 2021 incident
Both men referred to “oh, the monkey is dancing, the monkey is dancing.” I took it offensive,” the security guard said Tuesday.
“I said ‘no need for racial slurs’ and then made a hand gesture that I’d appreciate it if they would stop, I’m not a monkey, I don’t appreciate racial slurs, I never disrespected you both.” ‘
He alleged that Sewell then king-hit him and he fell to the ground, slamming his heat against the concrete, and Sewell continued to hit him.
“They grabbed me by the collar of my jacket, punched me in the back of the neck and then continued to hit me repeatedly as I tried to get away from Thomas Sewell,” he said.
He came to after a few punches, separated from Sewell, and then returned to the building.
Sewell claims that A Current Affair was portraying his group as a terrorist organization, he showed up at the office just hours before the segment with Sewell, about neo-Nazi groups, was to air.
The guard suffered various injuries, including bruising and swelling to his head, and was traumatized by the incident.
Sewell’s lawyer, James McQuillan, claimed that his client had acted in self-defense and was defending his cameraman when he attacked the man.
He claimed that the security guard lost his temper and grabbed the cameraman by the neck after being told to ‘monkey dance’, which the guard denied.
Mr McQuillan also claimed that no music was played and that the guard was “imagining or making it up”, which the guard said was “absolutely wrong”.
The hearing continues.