A fatal fire in which three people, including a baby, died, was lit by the child's father, a coroner has ruled.
File photo Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Scott Millar, his former partner, Katie Bruce and their 4-month-old son, Ash Millar all perished as a result of the fire in March last year, which gutted the house Katie Bruce and her son were living in on the Napier-Taupo highway.
The bodies of Ms Bruce and baby Ash were found in the lounge of their home.
Coroner Wallace Bain said the severity of the fire left both bodies completely burnt and indistinguishable.
Scott Millar was found outside the house.
He had been badly burnt in the fire and later died in Waikato Hospital.
Police told the coroner that Scott Millar visited Katie Bruce's home irregularly to see their son, but there were ongoing domestic violence issues.
On the day of the fire, Mr Millar took petrol to the house, police said.
They told the coroner there were two possible scenarios - firstly, that Mr Millar intended to kill Ms Bruce, the baby and himself.
However, Mr Bain said that after reviewing all the available evidence, he agreed with the second scenario, which was that Millar intended to cause the death of his former partner, but not himself and the baby.
"Police say the mere fact that he poured petrol and ignited the fire in such a close proximity to baby Ash is reckless and ultimately concludes that he is also responsible for the death of Ash and himself," Mr Bain wrote.
"The evidence does not however, establish sufficiently an element of intent for him and Ash."
In his findings Coroner Bain revealed the fatal house fire was not the first time Mr Millar had made threats against a former partner involving fire.
He had earlier been jailed for an incident in December 2009 after targeting another former partner with whom he had a daughter.
"[He] threatened to burn [the house] down and the people inside it. He had a full bottle of petrol and smeared it on the face and chest of his former partner."
Mr Bain formally found that Katie Bruce died from smoke and heat inhalation, as a result of a fire deliberately lit by Scott Millar intending to kill her.
He also found Scott Millar and Ash Millar died from the effects of the fire.
