Man jailed over anti-semitic video
Updated
Racial hatred... Brendon O'Connell's YouTube video.
A 39-year-old Perth man has been sentenced to three years' jail for posting an anti-semitic video on the internet.
Brendon Lee O'Connell is the first person in Western Australia to be convicted under the state's racial vilification laws.
A jury found him guilty last week of six offences.
O'Connell posted a video on YouTube showing him insulting a young Jewish man in 2009.
The video also showed O'Connell standing in front of the Perth Bell Tower telling Jews their days were numbered.
Members of Western Australia's Jewish community were in court for the sentence and welcomed the jail term.
Steve Lieblich, who represents the Jewish community and is on the Australia-Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, says racial vilification must be stopped.
"This time it was the Jewish people that were the target, next time it could be Muslims, Asians or any other group," he said.
"So we should be pleased that we've had this result and this signal has been sent to Mr O'Connell and his supporters."
First posted
Search ABC News
Featured Video
-
Video
'This one is a monster': Cairns locals are bunkering down ahead of what is expected to be a catastrophic cyclone.
-
Video
Premier Anna Bligh says Cyclone Yasi is the most severe, catastrophic storm to hit Queensland.
-
Video
Egyptian protesters have held a massive rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square calling for President Hosni Mubarak to step down.
-
Video
Egyptian
president Hosni Mubarak has promised to stand down at the next
election, in a move that has angered protesters who want him gone
sooner.
The ABC News Online Investigative Unit encourages whistleblowers, and others with access to information they believe should be revealed for the public good, to contact us.
