Prosecutors have failed to have supporters of two alleged neo-Nazis removed from court over coded hate speech.
Accused leaders of right-wing organisations Thomas Sewell, 28, and Jacob Hersant, 22, are facing court over allegations they assaulted and robbed a group of hikers at knifepoint in May this year.
During an online hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday a man going by the name Jimeone Roberts posted coded hate speech in the hearing's chat, prosecutor Danielle Guesdon said on Thursday.
He also held up a sign saying "Free Tom Sewell", she said.
Ms Guesdon said the alleged victims, who are giving evidence against the men, were concerned for their safety and feared they were being recorded by supporters.
She asked that all members of the public be banned from the courtroom for the remainder of the hearing, scheduled to end on Friday.
Magistrate Peter Reardon knocked back the request but put rule breakers on notice.
"If you are viewed to be misbehaving you'll be expelled and you'll only have yourself to blame," he said.
Immediately after the ruling the man identified as Mr Roberts turned on his camera and appeared wearing sunglasses.
Mr Reardon told him to remove the glasses, warning if he was cheeky he'd be the first to be kicked out.
"Behave as if you're in a courtroom. You may be at home, at work, in a variety of different locations but effectively you are in a courtroom," he said.
Other suspected supporters including Neil Erikson and a man going by "based51" also turned on their cameras.
Prosecutors say both men are leaders of neo-Nazi organisations, with Sewell tied to the European Australian Movement and Hersant to the National Socialist Movement.
They're charged with offences including unlawful assault with a weapon and robbery with a weapon.
It's alleged a group of hikers was confronted by a group including Sewell and Hersant in the Cathedral Ranges state park on May 8 this year after one of the hikers started filming the group, believing they were "probably the Nazis" who had featured in news reports about groups camping in the Grampians over Australia Day.
They're accused of smashing windows and threatening the hikers with knives before robbing them of their phones.
