Extremist seeks forgiveness in court appeal over antisemitic speech

A Sydney man serving a 12-month jail sentence for an antisemitic speech at an Australia Day rally has told the District Court he regrets his actions, has rejected white supremacist ideology, and does not want to be perceived as “a hateful person”.

Brandan Koschel, 31, appeared via audiovisual link from prison yesterday at the Sydney Downing Centre District Court during his appeal against the severity of his sentence.

Koschel told the court he was ashamed that his name is now tied to hate and claimed he had asked the Jewish community for forgiveness. He acknowledged that the timing of his remarks, delivered shortly after the Bondi terror attack that targeted a Jewish gathering, had been “incredibly insensitive.”

“I don’t want to be perceived as a hateful person,” he said. Koschel added that he had rejected white supremacist ideology and would not associate with neo-Nazi groups in the future.

His lawyer, Daniel Grippi, argued the offending sat at the lower end of seriousness for the charge of publicly inciting hatred on the grounds of race. The barrister pointed to Koschel’s claimed deradicalization, attributing his earlier views to online influences and personal pressures and highlighting his expressions of remorse as a significant mitigating factor.

The original sentencing in February at the Downing Centre Local Court saw Magistrate Sharon Freund impose 12 months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of nine months, after Koschel pleaded guilty. He becomes eligible to apply for parole around late October 2026.

At that hearing, the magistrate described the roughly 40-second speech at the March for Australia rally in Moore Park on January 26 as clearly intended to stir hatred against Jewish people. Koschel twice called Jews “the greatest enemy” of the nation and Western civilisation; referenced neo-Nazi figures, including Thomas Sewell and Joel Davis; and used associated imagery and gestures that drew applause from parts of the crowd.

At the rally, Koschel addressed the crowd at the March for Australia rally while wearing a black shirt emblazoned with a Celtic cross, a symbol often linked to neo-Nazi groups.

The magistrate noted the speech struck at the core of social cohesion, occurred on a day meant for unity, and took place in a public setting where it could easily be republished. She found a custodial sentence was necessary for deterrence, especially under NSW’s strengthened hate speech laws introduced amid rising antisemitic incidents.

Prosecutors had described the remarks as “abhorrent” and motivated by hate and prejudice, intended to encourage others to adopt similar views. Police had linked Koschel to associates of the now-disbanded National Socialist Network, though he denied formal membership.

At the original sentencing, the court heard Koschel had shown no initial remorse or insight into his offending. His statements during Thursday’s appeal represent a shift, with claims of reform and regret now central to his case for a lesser penalty.

Many of Koschel’s family members were present in court for the hearing. A decision on the appeal has been reserved.

The case remains one of the more high-profile prosecutions under the state’s expanded racial hatred incitement provisions. Koschel, from southern Sydney, continues to serve his sentence at Shortland Correctional Centre pending the appeal outcome and any parole considerations.