The skies were set alight by the blaze which burned the Olivers' house to the ground in Mauriceville. Photo / Nicky Vegar
The skies were set alight by the blaze which burned the Olivers' house to the ground in Mauriceville. Photo / Nicky Vegar
The woman accused of burning down a house in Mauriceville has said she will be pleading guilty to arson.
The woman, who was taken in by the occupants for the night after her own home burned down, is accused of intentionally damaging by fire the property of Bruce and CorrineOliver, knowing that danger to life was likely to ensue.
The 50-year-old teacher appeared in the Wellington District Court this afternoon.
"Could I just say that I am actually going to plead guilty?" she asked the judge.
The judge told her she was allowed to say such a thing but he would not enter her plea at this appearance.
She did not object to being remanded in custody, but questioned whether she would have access to music and books, "not just stuck in a cell with nothing, because that's quite debilitating.
"I don't need a television, sir, but I would require some sort of mental stimulation."
The woman, who has interim name suppression, appeared calm and collected as she stood in the dock.
