One of 3 admits arson

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 11

One of 3 admits arson

One of three men charged with the arson of a house in Kaiapoi on January 1 admitted the charge when he appeared in the District Court at Rangiora yesterday.

Before Judge Fraser was Shane Arthur Gordon, aged 20, factory hand, of Kaiapoi, who pleaded guilty to wilfully setting fire to the house at 218 Williams Street, the property of Tere Moana Teresa Allen.

Also facing the charge were Geoffrey Llewellyn David Gordon, aged 22, and Mark Alan Seddon, aged 18, unemployed labourers, of Kaiapoi. Both entered no plea and

were remanded until January 29 on bail of $1250 with a surety of the same amount.

Judge Fraser convicted and remanded Shane Gordon until February 20 for a probation report and sentence on bail of $1250, with a surety of the same amount.

Sergeant R. G. Henwood said that at 12.04 a.m. on January 2, the Kaiapoi Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to a fire at 218 Williams Street, Kaiapoi, and subsequently put out the fire with damage only to the lounge. However, at 3.59 a.m. the brigade was again called to

the house, which was on fire again, but failed to control it and the house was gutted. The estimated cost of the fire was $57,000.

Sergeant Henwood said that after help from several eye-witnesses who saw people running from the scene of the fire, the three defendants were arrested on January 9. He said that Shane Gordon admitted driving two of his brothers and some associates to the Williams Street address with the knowledge they* were going to start a fight.

Gordon waited nearby and then drove the others

back to his brother’s address where they picked up some items from the garage. He then returned them to the Williams Street house. Shortly afterwards a fire siren sounded, and Gordon joined his companions and watched the fire brigade put out the fire.

Sergeant Henwood said Gordon denied any knowledge of the second fire.

He said that further inquiries were being made, with the possibility of further arrests, but at this stage Gordon appeared to be a party to the offence only in that he drove his companions to and from the scene of the fire.

Defence counsel, Mr K. G. Hales, said that Gordon drove the others to the house believing they were going there for a fight, and had no knowledge that they were intending to start a fire, or were carrying petrol bombs.

He said Gordon thought the fight was part of an ongoing feud between his family and the owners of the gutted house. In passing sentence, Judge Fraser said that Gordon should be remanded until February 20 in the hope that all those charged with the same offence could appear together.