Nazi Symbol Accused on Parole After Chemist Wall Defaced
A man on parole faces charges for painting a Nazi symbol on a chemist’s wall in Newcastle, raising serious community concerns
Newcastle, Australia, Nazi Symbol, Bjorn Johnson, Assault, Parole
Newcastle: So, there’s this guy, Bjorn Johnson, who got into some serious trouble. He’s accused of painting a Nazi symbol on a chemist’s wall. And get this—he was on parole for assault when it happened.
He spent four nights in custody without saying a word after his arrest. When he finally showed up in court, he was handcuffed and looking pretty rough. His lawyer, Matthew Kilkeary, said Bjorn plans to plead not guilty and is trying to get bail.
Now, the charges are pretty serious. He’s facing accusations of displaying a Nazi symbol and vandalizing property. The magistrate, Peter Feather, pointed out that this kind of thing is a big deal, especially with all the racial tensions lately.
Johnson has a long criminal record, and if he’s found guilty, he could end up with a year in jail and a hefty fine. The magistrate made it clear that this isn’t a minor issue at all.
On the day of the incident, Johnson painted the symbol on a wall in Hamilton early in the morning. He was arrested a few hours later, but he didn’t want to talk to anyone, not even his lawyer.
When the magistrate looked at his history, he was concerned about whether Johnson would follow the rules if he got bail. But in the end, he decided to grant bail with strict conditions. Johnson has to report to the police daily and can’t go back to Hamilton.
However, he can’t be released until he finds someone to vouch for him, saying he’s a responsible guy. The case is set to continue in February, and Johnson didn’t say a word as he was taken back to the cells.