Maori radical set fire to girlfriend's house

Controversial Maori radical John Hikuwai has been convicted of setting fire to the home of his estranged girlfriend.

An Auckland District Court jury yesterday found the 52-year-old guilty of setting fire to a bedroom in the Mt Eden home of Cheryl King in July 2003.

The jury of 11 men and one woman took just over two hours to reach its decision after being sent out by Judge Mary-Elizabeth Sharpe.

Ms King served Hikuwai with a trespass order on the morning of July 6, 2003. In the ensuing argument, Hikuwai threatened to burn the house down.

His threats frightened Ms King, who left the house and called police from a neighbour's. Within minutes, a bedroom in Ms King's home that Hikuwai had occupied was ablaze.

Defence lawyer Doug Blakie had argued Hikuwai had no idea how the fire was started. It was possible Ms King had set the fire herself or a discarded cigarette had caused the conflagration, he said.

Judge Sharpe remanded Hikuwai in custody. He will be sentenced on March 28.