Self-described Nazi Jacob Hersant faces up to 12 months in jail

A white supremacist will get a custodial sentence after becoming the first Victorian found guilty of performing the Nazi salute.

Transcript

00:00It was 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

00:11gesture was banned under new state laws.

00:14Yesterday Hasson was found guilty after a Melbourne magistrate rejected his lawyer's

00:18arguments.

00:19The laws were constitutionally invalid.

00:21Now during a pre-sentencing hearing today, prosecutors told the court that Hasson's

00:26prospects for rehabilitation were poor to non-existent, but Hasson's lawyers argued

00:30that he was a good father and son, and while he held concerning views, he was far better

00:36than his worst deeds.

00:37Now Hasson was outside Victoria's county court last year, being sentenced over another

00:42offence when he performed the Nazi salute.

00:45Today Melbourne magistrate Brett Sonnett told the court that the only appropriate sentencing

00:49order he could hand down was a term of imprisonment, but he said that he would need another four

00:53weeks to decide the exact duration of that jail time.

00:57Magistrate Sonnett told the court that Jacob Hasson had significant mitigating factors

01:02weighing against him, specifically his absence of a guilty plea, his criminal history, as

01:06well as his lack of remorse.

01:08Today a defiant Hasson told reporters outside court that he had no regrets over his conviction.

01:14He's been allowed to remain in the community until his sentencing in November.

01:18The offence carries a maximum penalty of a $24,000 fine or 12 months in prison.

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