Newspaper Article
- Title
- Big crowd cheers Sharkey as opening of trial
- In
- Guardian
- Imprint
- no. 387, 1 April 1949
- Abstract
Reports on support for Communist Leader Lance Sharkey prior to his trial for sedition in 1949. In March 1949 Sharkey had told a Sydney journalist that if 'Soviet Forces in pursuit of aggressors entered Australia, Australian workers would welcome them'. He was tried in the Central Criminal Court and found guilty of uttering seditious words. The High Court of Australia upheld his conviction and in October he was sentenced to three years imprisonment. The term was later reduced and he served thirteen months.