Crim lashed for grave acts
This“would have an impact on any living relatives MAGISTRATE SCOTT LUXTON
A seasoned criminal high on methamphetamine badly damaged two gravestones at a heritage listed Townsville cemetery in a wanton act of desecration.
Moa Douglas Remelo Sam, 36, pleaded guilty to four charges including wilful damage at a cemetery and possessing dangerous drugs.
Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton told Sam that wilful damage at a cemetery carried a maximum of seven years imprisonment.
Prosecutor Mark Fenlon said police were called to the West End Cemetery at 2.20pm on February 9 this year after reports of a disturbance.
“Police quickly located Sam who was carrying two metal rods and they ordered him to drop the rods before arresting him,” he said.
They found 0.14 grams of methamphetamine on his person and he was aggressive towards police following his arrest. Mr Fenlon said the headstones of the two graves had been badly damaged and one in particular and the remains that grave contained were of a male person who died in 1936.
“Sam knew nothing of that of course, and the grave sites had absolutely no connection to him at all,” he said.
There was no explanation from Sam as to why he was in a cemetery with metal rods, or why he took the action he did on February 9.
“The desecrating was disgraceful and disrespectful, with no rational explanation attached to it,” said Mr Fenlon.
He tendered a written quote for repairs to the grave sites which totalled $5510.
“This amount will be met by the ratepayers in Townsville as there is no hope this person would ever repay that amount,” he said.
He said after Sam was taken from the cemetery to the watch house he created problems for police in his cell.
“He was kicking and screaming, covered in water, and throwing water at police,” he said. “This went on to the extent that he was Tasered in the cell and then taken to hospital.”
Magistrate Luxton said Sam had a poor criminal history and was clearly under the influence of an illicit substance when he desecrated the headstones. He described the wilful damage as a ‘disgusting act’.
“A cemetery has an element of sanctity to it and this would have an impact on any living relatives and indeed, impact on the wider community,” he said.
He sentenced Sam, who was already in custody and had served 56 days on remand, to a nine month jail sentence.