Second arson charge

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33189, 31 March 1973, Page 3

Second arson charge

GV Z Press Association) TIMARU, March 30. ' A further arson charge and a charge of false pretences involving §5OOO were admitted today by a 26-year-old man who had already pleaded guilty to a charge of arson. Malcolm John HuttonLatham, who yesterday admitted setting fire to his shop and causing a total of SI 1.000 damage. - today admitted starting an earlier fire on November 20. when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court. Timaru. Mr J. D. Kinder, S.M.,i

.remanded Hutton-Latham in [custody to April 5. Detective Sergeant J. A. Dawson told the Court that no police inquiries had been made into the first fire at HiStyle Interior Decorators, defendant’s business, at the time. Defendant had signed a [declaration that he did not know the cause of the fire, [and had been paid $5000.92 by the National Insurance Company, to cover the damage. On March 29 he first denied to the police that he had set fire to his shop on November 20, but after further questioning admitted he had. Detective Sergeant .Dawson said. He said Hutton-Latham itold the police that he left

i the shop with his female assistant about 5.35 p.m., and . went to his car. He then told t the woman he had forgotten i his cigarettes, and went back - to the shop. He stood in the , shop for a minute, and then ? lit a piece of wrapping: paper. After watching the 1 fire burn for a short time, t Hutton-Latham left the shop. , returned to his car, and 2 drove off. ? The Timaru Fire Brigade; ; was called at 5.50 p.m. Con-! siderable fire, smoke, and [ ( water damage was caused. i Detective Sergeant Dawson! i had told the Court on Hut< ■ ton-Latham’s earlier appear-: 3 ance that the business was t heavily in debt, and that; creditors would not be able! i to reclaim their money from I tithe defendant.