Neo-Nazi told off as magistrate denounces brazen racism

A judge has warned a neo-Nazi accused of dressing like a Ku Klux Klan member and inciting public racial hatred.

Jacob Hersant, 26, started smiling as details of the October 2024 allegations were read aloud in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

But judge Carolyn Burnside said these were serious allegations of blatant and brazen racism and told him to “wipe the smile off his face immediately”.

“We are in a multicultural society,” Ms. Burnside said.

“After coming back from Bondi and understanding what happened there… I want to make sure Melbourne is a safe place for everyone.”

Hersant is alleged to have worn Ku Klux Klan regalia and racially abused members of the public in Melbourne on October 31, 2024.

His accomplice, Nathan Bull, was allegedly wearing blackface and a noose around his neck on the same date.

Bull failed to appear in court on Tuesday and Ms Burnside issued a warrant for his arrest.

Hersant requested that his case be postponed, telling the court that he had recently found a Legal Aid lawyer.

He asked for a late March date as he expects to be jailed on Wednesday after losing an appeal against his Nazi salute conviction.

He was initially sentenced to one month in prison for the offense in October 2023 but was immediately released on bail to appeal the magistrate’s guilty verdict.

A District Court judge in December upheld the magistrate’s decision, and Hersant is expected to be re-sentenced Wednesday afternoon.

Ms Burnside allowed Hersant’s application for a longer adjournment, with the case due to return to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 13.

Outside court, Hersant told reporters that the judge had acted emotionally during the hearing and that racism was not illegal.

He also claimed that he wore a Ku Klux Klan outfit as a Halloween costume.