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Loitering charge dropped against National Socialist Network member Thomas Sewell
Loitering charge dropped against National Socialist Network member Thomas Sewell

ABC News

time17-07-2025

  • Politics
  • ABC News

Loitering charge dropped against National Socialist Network member Thomas Sewell

A charge has been dropped against National Socialist Network member Thomas Sewell over a march through the Adelaide CBD on Australia Day. Mr Sewell, 32, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, via telephone, where a charge of loitering was dropped by the prosecution. The 32-year-old was among 17 members of a group that was arrested after the march on the Australia Day long weekend this year. He was also previously facing a charge of displaying a Nazi symbol — but that was dropped earlier this year. Defence counsel Matthew Hopkins for Mr Sewell told the court on Thursday that the charge his client had been facing was "appropriately described as selective enforcement" and that he had been part of a "peaceful assembly". "This prosecution is a political prosecution," he said. "The charges were for an improper purpose to disrupt their political activities." Mr Sewell also appeared in court for the first time on a charge of breaching of bail on May 16 at Hindmarsh in Adelaide's western suburbs. His defence counsel flagged with the court he would be requesting the prosecution to pay their legal fees in excess of $2,000. "We haven't had the opportunity to prepare an argument, and we have attempted to negotiate reasonably with the prosecution," he said. The matter will return to court in September for an argument on costs, while the breach of bail matter will return to court next month.

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