Mother's death haunts her boys

Lynette Chapman's three sons _ aged 21, 19 and 13 _ say not a day goes by when they don't miss their mother. Photo / Supplied

The sons of a woman burned to death in her Pukekohe home hope a youth jailed for her killing suffers as much as they have since they lost her.

Emotional victim impact statements from Todd, Brad and Cole Chapman were read yesterday at the sentencing of the 19-year-old, who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Lynette Chapman and to two counts of arson.

Ms Chapman, 49, died when her home was set alight on January 19, 2009.

A teenage girl is charged with murdering Ms Chapman and of arson. She will be defending the charges at a trial next month.

Both she and the youth sentenced yesterday have name suppression until after the trial. He was jailed for two years but was granted leave to apply for home detention if a suitable residence can be found.

Yesterday, Ms Chapman's sons told of how their lives had changed since she was killed.

"This whole incident has turned our world upside down."

They said they would never forgive the youth and hoped he suffered as they had. Todd, 21, had spoken to his mother about a joint birthday party to celebrate his 21st and her 50th.

Brad, 19, said coming home from work at the end of the day and her being there was something he missed.

"We still wake up every day but she doesn't wake up with us," he said.

Cole, 13, said he had dreams of when she had still been with them. "I shouldn't have to dream it," he said.

She wasn't there for his first day at high school.

"People always ask us how we are ... [But] we can't talk to her any more, just think."

Losing their mother was worse than anything imaginable, he said.

The court also received a victim impact statement from Ms Chapman's partner of three years, Kevin O'Callaghan, who has four adult children of his own.

"We were planning our future together with our new extended family," he said.

Mr O'Callaghan said he struggled to understand the "senseless, mindless, cowardly act of evil".

Justice Christopher Allan said the youth had to be held accountable for the harm he had caused.

He acted as a "lookout" but did not enter Ms Chapman's home, where the Crown alleges the fire that burned the house down began.

A fire he had lit outside the front door earlier quickly fizzled out.

Justice Allan told the youth it was clear by listening to the victim impact statements how his actions had affected the family.

"You ruined their lives. Not a day goes by when she isn't in their thoughts."

The teenager's sentence was reduced for his guilty plea and the time he has already spent in custody and on strict curfew.

The youth will give evidence for the Crown against the teenage girl.