Thomas Sewell argues self-defence in alleged attack on TV security guard
A senior national socialist movement member says he was acting in self-defence when he repeatedly punched a security guard to the head outside Channel Nine’s headquarters after being refused a meeting with producers of television show A Current Affair.
Thomas Sewell, 29, said he attended the Docklands building with friend Jacob Hersant on March 1, 2021, after learning the program was due to air a segment about his group and believed they were being labelled extremists and “next-door terrorists”.
Thomas Sewell outside court this week.Credit:Justin McManus
“They’re cowards, they’re vermin, they’re rats. We’re here to confront them,” he was recorded saying.
“We haven’t advocated for any terrorist … we advocate for white people,” Sewell said.
Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard that when the pair were refused a meeting, they began filming a monologue inside the foyer, which they hoped to post online. They were ushered outside the building, which also houses The Age offices.
There, as they were asked to move further away from the building, 23-year-old Hersant referred to the security guard as a dancing “monkey”.
A man attacks a Channel Nine security guard on March 1. Police allege the attacker was Thomas Sewell.
Footage from CCTV cameras showed that moments later Sewell stepped in and punched the security guard to the head before the pair fell to the ground and tussled.
Sewell claimed he was acting in self-defence because the security guard had grabbed at his friend’s throat, but Crown prosecutor Paul Stefanovic said there was no evidence to suggest a throat punch occurred.
Sewell – who is contesting three charges including affray, recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault – appeared in court this week with almost a dozen supporters.
Far-right extremist Neil Erikson was among people watching online, while those in the court included Blair Cottrell from the United Patriots Front.
Magistrate Stephen Ballek ordered all those watching online to turn on their cameras after concerns were raised about the potential for live blogging of the proceedings and the intimidation of witnesses.
Ballek later interjected again after one observer used Hitler Youth images as the background to his online profile, while others attempted to watch wearing hats and sunglasses.
Another online viewer then objected to turning on his camera, telling the magistrate: “I consider that abuse because you wouldn’t ask a Muslim to remove their burqa”.
Others were later seen knitting, driving in cars and working at a construction site while following the proceedings remotely.
Sewell, far left, arriving at court with his supporters this week.Credit:Justin McManus
When asked if he attended Nine’s Bourke Street offices because he wanted to appear on the ACA segment as part of a recruiting drive, Sewell said that if that gave him the opportunity to “provide the truth” to viewers, then yes.
He said he was also very used to people “being offended by us”.
Outside court, Hersant was seen performing a Nazi salute.
The matter will return to court on Tuesday.
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