Arsonist's target was his wife

A Hastings man was yesterday found guilty of attempting to murder his wife and of arson endangering the lives of their children.

John David Sheward, aged 44, a former orchardist, stared at the floor as the verdict was read after a five-hour deliberation. He was remanded in custody until October 6 for sentencing. His name suppression was also lifted.

His estranged wife and members of her family were present for the verdicts, which came at the end of an 11-day trial in the High Court at Napier.

The Crown argued that Sheward wanted to kill his wife for her $500,000 life insurance policy to end the orchard's financial problems.

The defence case, led by Russell Fairbrother, was that the police arrested Sheward too early in their investigation. This meant they closed their minds to other suspects, including his 12-year-old son.

In a rare move, Justice Wild called the boy as a witness. The boy, who was calm and composed throughout his two hours in the witness box, said he remembered little about the fire except waking up to find everything black.

He told the court he did not light the fire that badly damaged the family home last November 3.

An investigation revealed six plastic diesel and petrol containers had been placed in a semi-circle around the main bedroom while accelerant was also splashed around the house.

The Crown, led by Russell Collins, said that after setting fire to the front hall of the house next to his youngest son's bedroom, Sheward grabbed the child and escaped out his bedroom window. His wife escaped out her bedroom window.

Between them the couple rescued their other children - two of whom were treated for smoke-inhalation.

Sheward's plan failed only because the fire did not have an adequate air supply, Mr Collins said.

Crown evidence showed that the couple's orchard partnership was so far in debt it was "unbankable."

Their orchard was to be sold in a mortgagee auction and the $335,000 proceeds of the earlier sale of another orchard had all gone to the ANZ Bank.

Sheward's father had promised financial help of up to $500,000 but only once their orchard was sold.

Fire engineer Clifford Barnett said he believed the fire had been set in three points; defence experts said it was most likely lit at one point in the dining room and spread, fuelled by fumes from the accelerants.

In his closing address Mr Fairbrother said the Crown had not explained the injuries to the eldest son or the high level of carbon-monoxide in his blood compared with his brother in the adjoining bedroom.

Mr Collins said Sheward was the only person who could have set the fire and the most chilling aspect of the case was that Sheward got dressed but did not wake his wife once he discovered the fire.

- NZPA