|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Police have today arrested and charged a man with two counts of murder in relation to an ongoing double homicide investigation in east Auckland.
A 38-year-old man will appear in the Manukau District Court today.
Counties Manukau CIB have been investigating what led to the fatal fire on Murvale Drive, Bucklands Beach, in the early hours of October 2.
Jung Sup Lee, 36, and his son Ha-il Lee, 11, both died as a result of the fire, which police have confirmed was deliberately lit.
Three others, including the child’s mother and sibling, managed to escape the early-morning fire, which emergency services found already “engulfed in flames” when they arrived shortly after 2.30am.
Read more: Donations near $25,000 after fatal Bucklands Beach house fire
As part of their investigation, police previously appealed for information about a 10-litre container found at the scene, believed to have been used to carry an accelerant that started the fire.
Officers asked anyone who saw a similar container, or a person carrying one in the area that night, to contact them.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua says information provided by the public, along with Police’s CCTV phase, aided in the arrest.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the assistance provided by those members of the public whose information was vital to this investigation,” he says.
“At this stage our enquiries remain ongoing and further charges cannot be ruled out.”
Va’aelua says police remain in contact with the family of the deceased.
“As part of this, we are ensuring that they have support in place.”
Police will continue their investigation to determine if anyone else was involved or had knowledge of the incident.
“I’d also like to thank our team of detectives, who have worked tirelessly throughout this investigation to bring this case to a close.”
