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Neighbours star ‘mocking The Age’ when he gave Nazi salute, court finds
Damien Richardson was found guilty for a gesture likely mistaken for a Nazi salute during a speech mocking The Age newspaper, under Victoria's 2023 laws banning such acts.
- Magistrate Justin Foster, Moorabbin Magistrates Court, found Damien Richardson guilty after a contested hearing for performing a banned gesture during a September 2024 speech at a Melbourne restaurant under Victoria's 2023 laws.
- Claiming The Age had likened him to Adolf Hitler, Damien Richardson said he raised his hand to mock that portrayal, with Magistrate Foster noting the gesture targeted The Age or himself.
- On the expert's definition, Magistrate Justin Foster found the gesture clearly resembled a Nazi salute though it lacked loyalty or obedience to Hitler, as Holocaust historian Konrad Kwiet described four salute elements.
- Richardson will return to court on December 4 for sentencing submissions at Moorabbin Magistrates Court and will be sentenced next month.
- The case unfolded at a National Workers Alliance event attended by neo-Nazis from the National Socialist Network, while Peter Monagle argued the theatrical defence but Magistrate Justin Foster rejected it, citing the licensed venue as a public place and dismissing artistic exemptions under Victorian law.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left6Leaning Right4Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Left
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources lean Left
55% Left
L 55%
R 36%
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