Three far-right activists are fighting charges they incited vilification of Muslims when they allegedly beheaded a dummy to protest the building of a Bendigo mosque.
United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell, 35, and supporters Neil Erikson, 32, and Christopher Neil Shortis, 46, are each representing themselves in the Melbourne Magistrates Court over the alleged stunt in October 2015.
Before the hearing began on Monday morning, anti-racism protesters gathered outside the courts, bearing anti-Nazi placards, but were held at bay by a wall of police.
United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell, 35, (pictured) and supporters Neil Erikson, 32, and Christopher Neil Shortis, 46, are each representing themselves in the Melbourne Magistrates Court over the alleged stunt in October 2015
United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell, 35, and supporters Neil Erikson, 32, (right) and Christopher Neil Shortis, 46, (left) are each representing themselves in the Melbourne Magistrates Court over the alleged stunt in October 2015
Neil Erikson, 32, is seen outside the Magistrates Court in Melbourne clashing against protesters
‘Racists, sexists, anti-queer, Nazis are not welcome here,’ the protesters chanted.
One woman’s sign read: ‘I am German. We have seen this before.’ Others demanded the area be a ‘Fascist free zone.’
The protesters also made their way inside the court filling the public gallery.
It followed a similar rally in March when the men previously appeared before the court, and protesters assembled outside chanting: ‘Muslims are welcome, racists are not.’
The trio on Monday pleaded not guilty to charges of willful damage including defacing a footpath and garden bed wall at the Bendigo council offices, and making a video aiming to incite contempt for Muslims.
The trio on Monday pleaded not guilty to charges of willful damage including defacing a footpath and garden bed wall at the Bendigo council offices, and making a video aiming to incite contempt for Muslims
Prosecutor Fran Dalziel said a charge of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place had been dropped, but gave no reason for the decision
Prosecutor Fran Dalziel said a charge of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place had been dropped, but gave no reason for the decision.
Shortis gave a lengthy speech, outlining more than 40 reasons why Director of Public Prosecutions John Champion should be subpoenaed to explain in court the reasons for the charges.
It could be argued that Mr Champion had engaged in ‘an unlawful exercise of power’ and that Victoria was at risk of becoming a ‘police state’ with a ‘clamping down’ of free speech, Shortis said.
Magistrate John Hardy knocked back Shortis’ application, saying the court did not have jurisdiction to question DPP decisions.
The trio were allegedly filmed conducting a mock beheading in Bendigo two years ago
Magistrate John Hardy knocked back Shortis’ application, saying the court did not have jurisdiction to question DPP decisions
Ms Dalziel said it was alleged the men made a short video, in which Cottrell appeared, thanking the Bendigo City Council for building a mosque before beheading a mannequin with a toy sword.
It is alleged the men spread a red liquid over the council’s garden footpath and walls while chanting ‘Allahu akbar.’
The UPF has previously called for donations to cover Cottrell’s court costs for what it called an ‘unprecedented battle for free speech.’
The group describes itself as a ‘patriotic street movement’, and opposes Islamic immigration and the building of mosques.
The hearing is expected to continue until Wednesday.
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