A fourth person has been arrested in the wake of the death of a man in his 80s in a house fire in Stokes Valley last year.
Ian David Moller was critically injured in a fire at a block of flats in Hanson Grove last November. A homicide investigation was launched after the 82-year-old succumbed to his injuries several days later.
A 26-year-old arrested overnight was the third person to be charged with Moller’s murder. He is also charged with arson, conspiring to commit arson, and participating in a criminal group.
The man will appear in the Hutt Valley District Court later today.
Three others, aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested yesterday morning after police carried out searches in the Hutt Valley area.
Two were charged with murder, arson and conspiring to commit arson, and the other with arson and conspiring to commit arson. All three were also charged with participating in a criminal group.
The trio were due to appear at the Hutt Valley District Court yesterday afternoon.
Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said the fire that killed Moller was one of several that had been allegedly let at the block of apartments where he lived.
“Police continue to investigate three incidents on Hanson Grove, on Thursday 10 October, Monday 14 October and Tuesday 5 November,” she said.
“All three of these incidents occurred in the early hours of the morning.
“If you have information that may assist in our ongoing investigations, please contact Police.”
Anyone with information is being asked to call 105.
Yesterday Ryan said it had been a “long and protracted” investigation.
“I have spoken with the Moller family who were relieved to hear the news, in what is a further step forward in coming to terms with what happened,” she said.
“Police would like to thank the Stokes Valley community who their continual support throughout this enquiry.
“We are confident there are further witnesses who may now feel comfortable coming forward and speaking with us and I would like to take this opportunity to urge them to do so.”
