Judge's husband dies in stables blaze

Jane Lovell-Smith (L) arrived home to news of her husband's death. Photo / Dean Purcell

The man killed in a fire on his South Auckland farm was the husband of district court judge Jane Lovell-Smith.

Ian David Walker, an economic consultant, died after leaving his home to check the blaze, which police said yesterday was caused by an electrical fault in a light-fitting.

The 61-year-old was found on Tuesday afternoon lying face down in the flames under a roofed area between a garage and stables - which housed a horse-float, tractor and ride-on lawnmower - at his home on Bryant Rd, Karaka.

His body was removed and an autopsy was done yesterday as police and fire safety investigators combed the scene.

Auckland barrister John Moody, who had known Mr Walker since they met as 12-year-olds at King's College, said his friend ran an economic consulting firm from home but was often overseas doing work for the Asian Development Bank. He had two daughters, both lawyers.

Mr Moody said he, Mr Walker and a group of close friends met for dinner each month and took their wives on overseas trips about once a year, most recently to Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast.

"He was extremely good company. He worked quite a bit away overseas but whenever he did come to dinner he was extremely interesting because he had this perspective of working outside New Zealand.

"He was a happy chap. He was contented with his life."

A next-door neighbour of Mr Walker said he and a friend went to the house when they saw the flames to rescue two horses that were "running around like crazy" in a paddock next to the barn.

Mr Walker's body was discovered by Papakura firefighter Phil Beech.

"A group of neighbours came over to me and said that they'd been to the house and the front door was open and there should be a male occupant around," Mr Beech said.

"He wasn't on scene and it was very unusual for him to not be in the house if the door was open because he was security-conscious."

Mr Beech said Judge Lovell-Smith arrived home moments after he discovered the body and a policeman broke the news to her.

"[Mr Walker] had been there from the time of the fire, judging by how badly burned he was. He wasn't in a situation where he was rescuable. He was probably deceased well before the fire brigade got the call to the fire."

Mr Beech said smoke from the fire could be seen from the Papakura fire station about 6km away.

About 20 firefighters from stations in Auckland and Waikato fought the blaze using about 50,000 litres of water from a tanker, Mr Walker's swimming pool and a damn on the property.

The death will be referred to the coroner.

Judge Lovell-Smith is a member of the Parole Board and a Manukau District Court judge who most recently presided over the case of a 14-year-old boy accused of a sex attack in Mangere.

In 2007, she helped send two former Pitcairn Islanders to jail for a total of 10 rapes and indecent assaults.