Convicted child killer Jeremy McLaughlin is appealing against his conviction and sentence for the murder of Christchurch schoolgirl Jade Bayliss.

A jilted grandmother embarked on a campaign of intimidation after her ex-partner ended their relationship, which included repeatedly setting fire to the man's Tokoroa home.

The family of the boy killed by Jeremy McLaughlin in Australia are relieved at his sentence, but say the case has invoked painful memories.

Double child killer Jeremy McLaughlin will be almost 60 by the time he can apply for parole again.

Double child killer Jeremy McLaughlin has been jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 23 years for the 2011 killing of Christchurch schoolgirl Jade Bayliss.

A German forensics expert has been asked to help police solve the mysterious death of a woman while being treated in hospital for burns she suffered in a suspected arson.

An elderly firebug has been jailed for more than seven years today after lighting a series of forest fires south of Nelson.

A woman who wanted to flee Christchurch after becoming embroiled with a gang and set fire in her own flat has been jailed for more than four years.

Jolon Sweeney says he helped teen killer Jeremy McLaughlin because he was fearful for his own life.

Officers confronted by 29 rioting inmates at the Spring Hill prison would have been overwhelmed if they tried to use pepper spray, a prison boss says.

About 100 inmates have been relocated to other prisons as abandoned cell blocks of the Spring Hill jail where rioters caused chaos yesterday are investigated.

Christchurch police are seeking information on a series of fires in the Wainoni area early this morning.

The Government will review rules around disclosure of criminal histories following the revelation that Jade Bayliss' murderer had killed before.

Police have confirmed that they knew of the dark past of convicted killer Jeremy McLaughlin, but were unable to tell anybody about it.

The mother of an Australian teenager killed by the man convicted of murdering Christchurch schoolgirl Jade Bayliss has described him as "evil".

Jeremy McLaughlin, found guilty today of murdering Christchurch schoolgirl Jade Bayliss, had also killed a child in Australia.

The man accused of strangling Christchurch schoolgirl Jade Bayliss before torching her family home took the stand today to "clarify events" around her death.

The flatmate of the man accused of murdering Christchurch teenager Jade Bayliss has today pleaded guilty to a charge of being an accessory after the fact of burglary and arson.

The trial of the man accused of murdering Jade Bayliss will reconvene in the High Court in Christchurch on Monday.

Paramedics who declared murdered Christchurch teen Jade Bayliss dead at the scene did not find any signs of smoke inhalation or burning on her body, a court heard today.

Jeremy McLaughlin loved the mother of the 13-year-old girl he's accused of murdering, but the love was unrequited, a court heard today.

Murdered schoolgirl Jade Bayliss had "no respect" for her mother's boyfriend, and used to mock his speech impediment, a court has been told.

Jade Bayliss was strangled, had socks stuffed in her mouth, and her family home was set on fire by Jeremy McLaughlin, an ex-partner of her mother, a court has heard.