Fire death prompts homicide probe
Police have begun a homicide investigation after a fatal house fire in Cockle Bay, East Auckland, last month. Wiremu Arapo, 27, was found dead in the Minerva Terrace home after it caught fire on October 20.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton said police made inquiries into the death on behalf of the Coroner — something that is standard procedure — when they discovered the death was suspicious.
“As our inquiries into the circumstances of Mr Arapo’s death have progressed, and following a post mortem examination, it has now led police to treat the matter as suspicious,” Bolton said.
A team of officers is now working on the case, which is being treated as a homicide.
Bolton said two people were hurt in the fire and taken to hospital. They have spoken to police.
“I strongly believe there are people that know what has happened to Mr Arapo and I’m urging them to do the right thing and contact us,” he said.
“The news of this homicide inquiry may cause some concern to members of the wider community. Police would like to reassure the public that we have a team of committed detectives working on this matter.”
Arapo had set up a fitness business in the garage of the home during the country’s Covid-19 lockdown, a neighbour said.
Paul Pope lives next door to the house and said the owners had only recently bought the property so he didn’t know them very well.
“They were quiet and kept to themselves. [Arapo] was running a fitness business from the house after the first lockdown.”
Pope was at the gym when the fire began and arrived home to find the street cordoned off.
Geoff Purcell, Counties Manukau Area Commander, said Arapo’s body was found near a doorway.
While the fire was still being investigated, Purcell said he didn’t know if the Arapo was trying to leave or get into the house.
However there were reports from neighbours of seeing a man trying to get back inside.