- Five people — Julia Dehm, Rosalie Delaney, Beth Nathan, David Nguyen and Sofia Todorova — what previously plead guilty to various charges inre protests at G20 in November 2006 are currently appealing their sentences. Tomorrow night @ The Arthouse there’s a benefit gig for others what are still facing charges:
The Arthouse
Cnr Elizabeth & Queensbury Sts
Melbourne
Thursday, August 28
8pm
w/-
*Bombing Angels
*La Haine
*Porn Librarians
*Team Rad
$10 // $7
G20 rioter Julia Dehm fears for legal career
Katie Bice
Herald Sun
August 26, 2008
A SERIAL protester who injured a policewoman during the G20 riots wants her conviction overturned so she can still practise as a lawyer.
Julia Dehm, 25, who threw a barricade in the G20 protest is one of five protesters convicted over the violent riots who have appealed the severity of their sentences.
The four women and a man were part of a mob that outnumbered and attacked police at a demonstration against the Group of 20 nations summit at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Melbourne in November 2006.
Protesters tried to break a police blockade at Collins St, pushing and hurling barricades at officers, and throwing wheelie bins and milk crates. They vandalised a brawler van in a riot where bottles and objects were hurled at police.
Dehm yesterday asked the County Court to quash her conviction and downgrade her penalty from a suspended sentence to community based order so she could continue on her career path as a lawyer.
The court heard she helped throw a barricade that hurt a policewoman and pushed barricades at police.
Jim Kennan, SC, said his client had been a significant contributor to the community and posed no threat of reoffending. “She is extremely remorseful and realises what she did was wrong . . . and really in stark contrast to the values she has held.”
Mr Kennan said the earlier sentence threatened Dehm’s capacity to make a meaningful contribution to society through her legal practice.
The court heard she had been charged over protests in January and July 2006.
Prosecutor Christopher Beale said a community based order with or without conviction would be manifestly inadequate. He said Dehm had taken a peaceful protest “up a notch and engaged in violent activity”.
The court heard Rosalie Delaney, 20, was in a tug of war over a barricade and emptied a bin into the brawler van. Michael O’Connell said his client had done 45 of 200 hours’ community work but wanted her conviction overturned so it didn’t continue to punish her.
Appeal hearings for Sofia Todorova, 26, Beth Nathan, 22, and David Nguyen, 24, have yet to be heard. All five pleaded guilty to riot charges, with other counts of criminal damage and recklessly causing injury dismissed.
Policeman’s sister sorry for G20 rioting in Melbourne
Georgie Pilcher
Herald Sun
August 27, 2008
A WOMAN who encouraged protesters to attack a police brawler van during Melbourne’s G20 riots is a policewoman’ sister.
Sofia Todorova, 26, cried “Everyone go forward” as she rallied protesters to confront police at the November 2006 riots.
Her friend, Rosalie Delaney, 20, of Parkville, emptied the putrid contents of a rubbish bin into the front seat of a police brawler van.
The pair, along with Julia Dehm, 25, Beth Nathan, 22, and David Nguyen, 24, are appealing against their convictions over their involvement in the riots.
The County Court heard yesterday that Todorova, whose sister is a policewoman in Carlton, was now sorry for her behaviour.
The aspiring photographer, of Moonee Ponds, had written a letter of apology, saying her conduct was out of character.
“I believe in the right to protest, but I acted against my own principles,” she said.
All five were convicted and given community work.
None has completed the required hours, but all want their convictions lifted and their sentences reduced so they can travel, go on student exchanges and work in their chosen fields.
Their lawyers said all were sorry and did not condone violence.
But prosecutor Christopher Beale said they’d committed serious crimes, and sentences of community work without convictions would be inadequate.
Protesters had tried to break a police blockade at Collins St by throwing wheelie bins, milk crates and water-filled barricades, and abused police.
A DVD played in court showed Nguyen, of Coburg, throwing a bottle at police, Nathan ramming a barricade at the officers, and Dehm injuring a policewoman by helping to hurl a barricade.
Dehm, of Brunswick, was fined $3000 and sentenced to a suspended seven-month jail term.
Lawyer Mandy Fox asked Judge David Parsons to clear Nathan’s record so she could become a social worker.
The Brunswick woman, who covered her face and helped push barricades at police, had done 32 of 180 hours’ community service.
The court heard the conviction against her affected her ability to travel and seek employment.
Lawyer George Georgiou said Nguyen’s involvement, including throwing a bottle towards police, was “mindless stupidity” and his conviction should be overturned so he could go on an exchange to Chile and become a teacher.
Judge Parsons will announce his decision tomorrow.
