Former neo-Nazi fined for offensive salute
A 21-year-old man who performed a Nazi salute at police officers while drunk outside a popular Hobart bar has been fined $1,400.
Alex Kobi James-Devine was leaving the area outside the Observatory Bar on Hobart’s waterfront in the early hours of February 8 when he made the gesture towards officers.
Hobart Magistrates Court
Police had directed him to leave the area after viewing footage of him involved in an altercation in which he was punched in the face and lost a tooth.
He pleaded guilty to performing a Nazi gesture, as well as charges of behaving in a violent manner, failing to comply with police directions and disorderly conduct.
During sentencing in Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday, Magistrate Andrew McKee said James-Devine had, for a period in his life, fallen into “Nazi ideology” online.
He had since “removed himself” from those influences and now attends church, where he has found a sense of community, Mr McKee said.
James-Devine was reportedly heavily intoxicated on the night of the incident.
“I am told that given your level of intoxication, for some reason, you fell back into old habits,” Mr McKee said.
James-Devine told the court the gesture was “just like an F U type of thing”.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $4,000 for a first offence.
James-Devine was fined $1,400 and ordered to pay about $80 in court costs. Convictions were recorded on all four charges.
Mr McKee said the Nazi salute was the most serious of the offences and described it as inappropriate, offensive and without any justification.
“Other members of the public would have seen the gesture … others might find it extremely offensive,” he said.
The magistrate noted that the maximum penalty for performing a Nazi gesture doubles for a second offence and said general deterrence was an important factor in sentencing.
By Ethan James /AAP
