Rotorua chef Tuta Davoren faces arson charge over Fenruss St blaze

Tuta Douglas Davoren appears in the Rotorua District Court accused of an arson on Fenruss St on June 5. Photo / Kelly Makiha

A man accused of burning down his own home on Fenruss St has appeared in the Rotorua District Court.

Tuta Douglas Davoren, listed in court documents as a 41-year-old chef, has pleaded not guilty to three charges – arson, unlawfully taking a car and driving while disqualified.

The house fire on Fenruss St.

Davoren, 41, was to apply for bail today but his lawyer, Andy Schulze, advised Judge John Bergseng he would not be applying yet.

Davoren is charged that on June 5, he damaged by fire a Fenruss St property that he co-owned with a woman, intending to cause loss to her.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.

He is also charged with unlawfully taking the woman’s Mazda vehicle, valued at $13,000, on the same day and drove while disqualified.

Judge Bergseng remanded Davoren in custody to reappear for a case review hearing on August 27.

The fire happened about midnight and took Fire and Emergency New Zealand about three hours to control.

A house caught fire on Fenruss St overnight. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Rotorua Daily Post reported at the time of the fire a neighbour woke to hear a loud bang, smashing windows and sparking wires.

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.