2 Jan 2010

House of death demolished

5:35 pm on 2 January 2010

A house in Christchurch - where the bodies of two women were buried under the floodboards - has been torn down after it was set on fire again on Saturday.

It's the fourth fire at the house in Wainoni Road since the bodies were found in September last year.

The owner, Jason Somerville, 33, has admitted murdering his wife, Rebecca Somerville, 35, and a neighbour. Tisha Lowry, 28, had been missing for almost a year when the bodies were found.

He pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court on 11 September.

The Fire Service was called to the house at 5.40am on Saturday and found it well alight.

Assistant area commander Greg Crawford says the building was too dangerous to be left standing and he ordered the demolition.

Neighbours watching the demolition of the semi-detached house, said they were pleased to see it go because of what happened there.

One of them, Joy McMahon, said she would have liked it demolished right after the bodies were found.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says the rubble has to be cleared within four weeks. He believes the site could become a memorial park.