A Logan funeral director with three decades of experience has been left deeply shaken after a family was allegedly allowed a private moment with a deceased relative before one of its members removed part of the body.
Esther Swanborough, 58, operates Swanborough Funerals in Browns Plains, south of Brisbane, providing services around the clock, seven days a week.
However, she and her staff were stunned by what allegedly took place during a family viewing on Friday.
Queensland Police allege that shortly before 1pm, two men and a woman arrived at the funeral home after arranging to view the body of a deceased man known to them.
‘It is alleged one of the men interfered with the corpse whilst at the premises and fled the scene before police arrival,’ Queensland Police said in a statement.
The man was arrested several hours later, shortly before 6.30pm, at a Browns Plains property. The other man and the woman were arrested at the funeral home.
‘Everyone is shocked. Based on our understanding, this appeared to be a premeditated act,’ Ms Swanborough told the Daily Mail on Saturday.
‘When we realised what had occurred, we rang the police immediately. It was a shocking event for all of our team.’
Esther Swanborough (pictured) operates Swanborough Funerals in Browns Plains, Logan
The experienced funeral director was shaken after a family allegedly removed part of a corpse during a private viewing
Ms Swanborough said she discovered what the three visitors were allegedly doing when she returned to the room to check on them. She said the group was not from the Logan area.
‘I was personally asked [to step out] and they said, “We have our cultural reasons”,’ she said.
‘I always go and check to see how they [visitors] are doing. I had some specific requests from the family, which is why I went back into the room.
‘This had nothing to do with culture. This was not a cultural practice. It was something very different.’
The alleged incident left Ms Swanborough profoundly disturbed.
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‘As funeral directors, we are good at reading people. I realised something untoward [appeared to be] going on,’ she said.
‘I confronted them. What happened is not acceptable, morally or ethically.
‘I have been a funeral director for 30 years and I have never experienced anything like this. Any funeral home would have been in the same position.’
Ms Swanborough said her team had followed established protocols and was supporting one another after the disturbing incident
Ms Swanborough said her staff had established protocols in place and, despite being shocked and disappointed, were coping with the aftermath.
‘Our focus has been to care for our team members as well as for the deceased,’ she said.
The 47-year-old man, 38-year-old man and 43-year-old woman were each charged on Friday.
Each faces one count of entering premises with intent to commit an indictable offence, being armed with intent to enter premises and commit an indictable offence, and misconduct with a corpse.
During a mention of the three cases at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday, Magistrate Peter Saggers said the group had allegedly been carrying several sharp implements, according to The Courier-Mail.
‘Just reading the bench charge sheets, they’re entering Swanborough Funerals home at Browns Plains, whilst armed with scissors, scalpels, and blades to commit an offence, and then, without justification, interfered, namely, wounded a dead body,’ he said.
The 47-year-old man did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody. He is due to face Beenleigh Magistrates Court on November 12.
The 38-year-old man’s case was adjourned because he requires a Korean interpreter. He remains in custody and is due back in court on November 10.
The woman also did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody. She is scheduled to appear via video link on December 7.
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