Teen jailed for mother of three's manslaughter

File photo / NZ Herald

A 19-year-old has been sentenced to two years in jail for the manslaughter of a mother of three who was burned to death in her south Auckland home.

The teenager, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Lynette Chapman and of two counts of arson.

He acted as the lookout while another person is alleged to have started a fire outside Ms Chapman's house in January 2009.

That person, a teenage girl who also has name suppression, is facing a High Court murder trial next month.

Ms Chapman was burnt so badly it took days to formally identify her through DNA.

At the High Court at Auckland today Justice Allan said the 19-year-old was a young naive man that had done something horribly stupid.

The 19-year-old's lawyer, Gary Gotleib, said the teenager couldn't believe he was part of something like that which had happened.

The judge has given him leave to apply for home detention if a suitable residence can be found.