‘Vandal pinned down by Jesus tombstone Down Under’

MELBOURNE - A man was pinned to the ground by a tombstone bearing an image of Jesus during an alleged vandalism attack on a Brisbane cemetery, a court has heard.

A committal hearing is underway for four people charged with desecrating gravestones at Toowong cemetery.

It is alleged Zoe Louise Wilson, 24, Benjamin Lionel Garland, 19, and Shane Alan Bell and Michael John Smallbon, both 27, damaged 82 graves at the cemetery in August last year.

They have each been charged with wilful damage, reports News.com.au.

The four were arrested after Wilson had a conversation with a work colleague, Anna Nisbett, about damaging gravestones during a late night trip to the cemetery.

Nisbett told the court Wilson had said Bell and friends had visited the cemetery one night, bearing inverted crucifixes.

“She (Wilson) indicated it had meaning for satanists,” Nisbett said, saying she was “stunned” by the story.

The federal public servant said Ms Wilson had told her of a bizarre incident involving a tombstone.

“(Wilson said) ‘Jesus smashed Shane’. (She said) the tombstone moved a significant distance, hit Shane and pinned him on the legs,” Nisbett said.

Bell screamed and passed out from the pain, and the three others had to move the tombstone off his legs, the court heard.

The four accused are yet to enter a plea.

The committal hearing continues. (ANI)