A suspicious house fire being investigated by police in West Auckland is the same address where a woman was stabbed to death last month. Photo / SNPA
A suspicious house fire being investigated by police in West Auckland is the same address where a woman was stabbed to death last month.
The Fire Service was called to School Road in Te Atatu shortly before 5am.
The fire was out by 6.30am and the scene was being investigated.
Police were also at the scene.
"The fire is being treated as suspicious and a scene examination will be underway this morning," a police spokeswoman said.
Firefighters were dealing with several small fires in the vacant two-storey house.
The house is the same one where a 36-year-old woman was stabbed during a girls' day out in October, police confirmed.
She died soon after police arrived at 4pm.
Neighbours described a "lovely" gathering turning to chaos, with two women fighting viciously on the front lawn, with one throwing a chair at the other.
The woman who lives at the address and hosted the event, who did not wish to be named, told the Herald in October it was a "beautiful" day until an uninvited guest arrived.
"I didn't even know her," she said.
"It was a beautiful day, we are all sisters that grew up together. An outsider came in, no one knew that was going to happen."
The victim was believed to be a mother of two.
A 36-year-old woman has been charged with her murder.
Palmerston North community reacts to 19 year old’s death, Mayor Grant Smith says his condolences are with the family. Video / Ethan Manera
