House in Riwaka homicide case burns down

The orchard house in Riwaka near Motueka where two girls were found dead at the weekend has been destroyed by fire early this morning.

Emergency services were called at 1.50 am today to the house where the bodies of Nikkita Hingston, five, her sister Dominique, six, were found dead on Saturday morning after being left for the night with their father.

The house was completely destroyed by the fire and the nearby shed where the girls' father, Frank Hingston, was found dead was also partially destroyed.

Fire safety officers were investigating the scene this morning and police said the fire was being treated as arson.

Police said yesterday that the deaths were a double homicide and a suicide.

Police know how the three died, but would not release any information until after the coroner has determined the cause of death.