Teens in court over fatal Pukekohe fire

Lynette Chapman (inset) died in a fire at her Pukekohe home. Photos / Paul Estcourt, supplied

Two teenagers appeared in court today charged with murder and manslaughter after a fire in Pukekohe which killed a mother of three last month.

A 16-year-old girl, who was charged with murder, and an 18-year-old man, charged with manslaughter, appeared in Manukau Youth Court.

The 16-year-old was remanded in custody, while the 18-year-old was bailed to the custody of his grandfather outside Auckland.

Both teenagers will appear in Manukau Youth Court on June 11 for a depositions hearing.

They have already appeared in Pukekohe Youth Court several times on an arson charge.

They were originally charged with arson after Lynette Margaret Chapman, 49, died at her Wellington St home in Pukekohe on January 20.

She knew the teenagers but was not related to them.

Police said an autopsy confirmed Ms Chapman had died in the fire but police did not believe she had been attacked before it was lit.

The pair were jointly charged and because the younger teen was covered by the rules of the Youth Court on issues such as name suppression, the same rules would apply to the man, Detective Inspector Mark Gutry said.

Neighbours said Ms Chapman was a "beautiful lady" with three boys aged from 13 to 20.

The boys were believed to have been staying with their father in Waiuku at the time of the fire.

- NZPA