A well-known Neo-Nazi leader is making a renewed attempt to secure bail after being accused of orchestrating an attack on an Aboriginal protest site. His fiancée has offered a $20,000 surety to facilitate his release.
Thomas Sewell, 32, acknowledged photographers with a raised hand as he arrived at Melbourne’s Supreme Court today. He was accompanied by his fiancée and a group of eight supporters.
Sewell, who leads the white nationalist group National Socialist Network, has enlisted the services of prominent barrister Dermot Dann KC to argue for his release, following a previous bail denial in September.
Dann argued that any potential threat Sewell might pose to the community could be mitigated through strict bail conditions. These could include restrictions on entering Melbourne’s city center and prohibiting contact with co-defendants.
Sewell’s fiancée, Rebecca Konstantinou, testified before the court, stating she had gathered the $20,000 surety from her personal savings and contributions from family and friends to secure his bail.
Konstantinou, who previously worked in educational settings assisting children with trauma, is currently not employed as she is focusing on caring for their two children during Sewell’s incarceration.
Prosecutor Erik Dober opposed Sewell’s release, saying he was “the initiating force” behind the attack.
“It is the applicant who leads the way, leads a charge of approximately 30 people into Camp Sovereignty, saying ‘let’s get ’em’,” he said.
“That by itself places him in a different situation of seriousness to the others.”
Dober said the trial delay was not unusual and Sewell’s serious role in the incident could see him jailed for close to the 10-year maximum.
The attack on Camp Sovereignty came a day before the 32-year-old was due to attend court over targeted threats to expose a police officer and his wife’s personal information, for which he was later found guilty.
The bail hearing will resume before Justice James Elliott later today.
