A white supremacist is set to be jailed after becoming the first Victorian found guilty of performing the Nazi salute. A magistrate rejected arguments for Jacob Hersant’s lawyers that Victoria's laws were constitutionally invalid. He will return to court on Wednesday for a pre-sentencing hearing.
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00:00It was about this time last year when far-right extremist Jacob Hasson became the first person
00:07in Victoria to be charged with performing the Nazi salute, just days after the offensive
00:12gesture was banned under new state laws.
00:14Yesterday, Hasson was found guilty after a Melbourne magistrate rejected his lawyer's
00:18arguments that the laws were constitutionally invalid.
00:21Today, during a pre-sentencing hearing, prosecutors told the court Hasson's prospects for rehabilitation
00:27were poor to non-existent, while his lawyers told the court he was a good father and son
00:33and while he had concerning views, he was better than his worst deeds.
00:37Now, it was outside Victoria's county court last year after Hasson had been sentenced
00:42over another offence, where he performed the Nazi salute.
00:45Today, Magistrate Brett Sonnett said that the only appropriate sentencing order he could
00:49hand down today was a term of imprisonment, but said that he would need two weeks to decide
00:54the exact duration of that jail time.
00:57Brett Sonnett told the court that there were significant mitigating factors weighing against
01:01Jacob Hasson, citing his absence of a guilty plea, his criminal history and his lack of
01:07remorse.
01:08It was just yesterday after being convicted, Jacob Hasson, after leaving court, told reporters
01:12that he would continue to perform the Nazi salute, except next time he wouldn't do it
01:17in front of police.
01:18The offence carries a maximum penalty of a $24,000 fine or 12 months in prison.