Former Soap Star Convicted for Nazi Salute | Australia News

A former soap opera star, Damien Richardson, 57, lost his appeal and must face the full weight of his conviction after being found guilty for making a Nazi salute at a September 2024 event for the National Workers Alliance in Melbourne. Judge Kate Hawkins swiftly rejected his appeal without reading reasons aloud, upholding the original guilty verdict. The case began with a “restorative justice” sentence—counseling and shadowing a Jewish leader—but prosecutors argued that a community corrections order was more appropriate, citing the harmful nature of Nazi gestures and concerns about attracting sympathizers. Richardson’s defense countered that there’s no proof he knew attendees held Nazi views, claiming the gesture was sarcastic, and that his client had already been “cancelled” by the entertainment industry. Now, Judge Hawkins has ordered an assessment for a community corrections order, including supervision, community service, and treatment, with sentencing scheduled for September 1st. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7e23f1c56a91e9b6