Relief as 'murder house' destroyed

CraigCrew

GUTTED: Christchurch's House of Horrors burning. The house on the corner of Hampshire and Wainoni Road had to be demolished after another arson attack.

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Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker is welcoming the demolition of the city's "House of Horrors".

The Christchurch property where Jason Somerville killed two women and hid their bodies was demolished after it was attacked for the fourth time by arsonists early on Saturday.

Parker said the murders of Rebecca Somerville in August last year and Tisha Lowry in September, 2008, had traumatised the community.

"Like most people, I feel a huge sense of relief. It has been hanging over that community and every time someone walks past it is a reminder."

The site on the corner of Wainoni Rd and Hampshire St is now a pile of rubble and twisted corrugated iron.

The Christchurch City Council will this week order the owners of the two adjoining properties that once occupied the site to clear the rubble within 28 days. One property is owned by a North Island couple and the other by Somerville.

Parker hopes the site clearance process will clarify ownership issues around the property and help advance his proposal to turn the site into a community facility such as a small park.

"No-one has been able to clarify who owns the property known as the murder house. Things are a bit more straightforward now. We can serve notice on the site and ask the owners of the site to have the rubble cleared. We are going to serve people with notices and so if they are not the right people in the chain they will have an incentive to resolve the process."

Parker said he personally favoured a small park on the site and this could help a traumatised community.

However, the proposal was subject to consultation with neighbours and approval by the full council.

Residents are also pleased the building has been demolished.

Hampshire St resident William Holmes said he was glad to see it go. "It is great that it has finally gone. It is about time. It was trouble because you saw people coming in and out of there all the time."

The Fire Service was called to the fire at 5.39am on Saturday. Five fire engines contained the blaze and helped protect a neighbouring property that suffered cracked windows and melted gutters from the heat of the fire.

Fire Service assistant area commander for Christchurch Greg Crawford said the building was demolished because it was unsafe. "I know a lot of locals wanted it taken down a long time ago, but that was nothing to do with my decision.

"It was purely on safety grounds.

"Whoever did this did a reasonably good job this time. The house was in a really dangerous state and burning very well in some places.

"We had to have it demolished in the interests of public safety. I felt it was best to demolish it in a safe and controlled manner," Crawford said.

- © Fairfax NZ News