Man admits grave desecration

Jewish graves were desecrated with Nazi emblems at the Grafton Cemetery on Karangahape Rd. Photo / Chris Gorman

One of the men accused of desecrating 20 Jewish graves in a central Auckland cemetery last month has pleaded guilty, while the other will fight the charge.

Name suppression expired today for Robert Moulden, 19, and Christian Landmark, 20, who were charged over the vandalism of the graves in Grafton Cemetery on Symonds St.

Neither man applied for an extension of the suppression order.

Moulden pleaded guilty to a charge of intentional damage when he appeared in Auckland District Court yesterday and is to be sentenced in February.

Landmark has pleaded not guilty to the same charge and will appear before the court again in January.

The gravestones were defaced with anti-semitic graffiti and swastikas. One said "f*** Israel'', another said "don't f*** with us''.

A third man was initially over the attack, but police later withdrew the allegation.

The vandalism was widely condemned.