Burning death of Terrence Smith slow and 'agonising' - coroner

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A coroner has released his findings into the grisly death of a man who was doused with petrol and set alight.

Shay Barry Webster, 22, and Jason Alistor Barr, 44, were jointly charged with the manslaughter of Terrence Smith after an act of misplaced vigilante justice.

In a decision released today, Coroner David Crerar ruled that Mr Smith died from complications of thermal burns.

The inquiry found that Mr Smith, 55, was at his home on April 25, 2013, with his two flatmates during a heavy drinking session when an argument arose between the group after Mr Smith was falsely accused of having sexual interest in children.

Mr Smith vehemently denied the allegations - his innocence later confirmed by police - but was cornered in his bedroom where Barr poured petrol over him.

When a witness moved to defuse the situation, Webster flicked a lighter twice, which ignited the petrol fumes and set Mr Smith on fire.

He died in hospital two weeks later with burns to 29 per cent of his body, surrounded by his traumatised family.

The two men were charged with manslaughter after pleading guilty in the High Court at Christchurch on Anzac Day last year.

They were sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of two years and six months after Judge Mander found that both killers were equally culpable.

"This was not a quick death but an agonising one," Justice Mander said.

Mr Smith's family said the sentences imposed by Justice Cameron Mander were totally inadequate.

"We are concerned that both offenders pose a high risk of reoffending given that between them they have over 100 prior convictions," said Mr Smith's ex-wife, Michelle Smith, outside court.

"Many of their convictions are for violent crimes.

"We want to stress to the general public that this could be you in this situation, where a loved family member has been taken away and the value of their life has been minimalised by what we believe to be a totally inadequate sentence."

Pathologist Dr Joanna Glengarry said in her opinion, after carrying out a post-mortem examination, the direct cause of Mr Smith's death was 'complications of thermal burns'.

"The reasons for my decision to conclude my inquiry are that I am satisfied that the causes of the death and the circumstances of the death of Terrence Smith have been considered and dealt with by a High Court Judge at trial and that all matters required to be established have been adequately established," the coroner ruled.