Man pleads guilty to involvement in arson of car found in Havelock North in Ariki Rigby case

A tribute to Ariki Rigby at the Havelock North riverside carpark where the burned-out car was discovered with her body inside. Photo / Neil Reid

A man has pleaded guilty to being involved in the arson of a burned-out car in which Ariki Rigby’s body was found in September 2022.

Rigby’s body was found in a riverside carpark near Havelock North about four weeks short of her 19th birthday.

In the High Court at Napier on Monday, Ropine Robin Paul, 29, pleaded guilty to being party to the arson of a Toyota sedan.

Justice Paul Radich entered a conviction and remanded Paul on electronically monitored bail until his sentencing date on March 21.

At the request of Crown Solicitor Steve Manning, Justice Radich suppressed a summary of facts outlining events in early September 2022. Rigby’s body was discovered by a dog-walker on September 5.

The summary of facts was suppressed to preserve the fair trial rights of another man charged in the case.

Jimmy Heremaia is in custody charged with murder and arson and is due to face trial later this year.

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Ariki Rigby's body was found on September 5, 2022.

Ric Stevens spent many years working for the former New Zealand Press Association news agency, including as a political reporter at Parliament, before holding senior positions at various daily newspapers. He joined NZME’s Open Justice team in 2022 and is based in Hawke’s Bay. His writing in the crime and justice sphere is informed by four years of frontline experience as a probation officer.