Teen changes plea to murder in arson death

Murder victim Lynette Chapman. Photo / Supplied

A 17-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to murdering Pukekohe mother of three Lynette Chapman.

The girl, who has name suppression until after her sentencing in July, entered the plea at an arraignment at the High Court at Auckland this afternoon.

She also pleaded guilty to two counts of arson.

The girl was due to stand trial for the murder next month. She started to cry after pleading guilty to the murder charge and then sat slumped in the dock while Justice Geoffery Venning ordered pre-sentence reports.

A co-offender, a 19 year-old man who acted as a lookout during the arson, was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to Ms Chapman's manslaughter.

Ms Chapman, 49, was burned to death in her Pukekohe home on January 20, 2009. Her body was burnt so badly it took days to formally identify her through DNA.

He was jailed for two years but was granted leave to apply for home detention if a suitable residence can be found. His sentence was reduced for his guilty plea and the time he has already spent in custody and on strict curfew.

Emotional victim impact statements from Ms Chapman's sons Todd, Brad and Cole were read during the sentencing.

The boys said they would never forgive the youth and hoped he suffered as they had.

The 19-year-old's lawyer, Gary Gottleib, said the teenager couldn't believe he was part of something like that which had happened.