Stokes Valley apartment fire investigation

The story so far

An elderly man was critically injured in a suspicious fire at a block of flats on Hanson Grove, Stokes Valley, on a Tuesday morning in early November 2024, and police noted the property had been targeted by fires on 10 and 14 October.^{5 Nov 2024} Police sought a barefoot man seen riding a bicycle near the block before the Tuesday fire, which left another elderly man hospitalised with smoke inhalation and was the third suspicious fire at the address in less than a month.^{7 Nov 2024} A 21-year-old Wellington man was charged with arson over the 10 October fire, one of the three suspicious fires at the address.^{8 Nov 2024} The man who was critically injured in the Tuesday fire later died, and police launched a homicide investigation.^{11 Nov 2024} The 21-year-old man had previously been arrested in relation to one of the fires at the property.^{11 Nov 2024}

Latest

Police have launched a homicide investigation after the man injured in the Tuesday fire died from his injuries.^{11 Nov 2024} The homicide inquiry follows the earlier arson charge and an arrest linked to one of the fires at the Hanson Grove property.^{8, 11 Nov 2024}

What's next

The 21-year-old man charged with arson was due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court on the Friday.^{8 Nov 2024}

Key moments

1. 5 Nov 2024Elderly man critically injured in suspicious Hanson Grove flats fire
2. 5 Nov 2024Property had earlier been targeted by fires on 10 and 14 October
3. 7 Nov 2024Police search for barefoot man seen cycling near the block
4. 7 Nov 2024Third suspicious fire at the address in under a month
5. 8 Nov 202421-year-old Wellington man charged with arson over 10 October fire
6. 11 Nov 2024Man injured in the fire dies; police launch homicide investigation

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.