27 Mar 2019

Man accused of arson in Nelson named

7:41 pm on 27 March 2019

The man charged with lighting two fires in Nelson last month can now be named.

Crews have now slowed the momentum of the new fire that broke out near Nelson but are still working to contain it and stop it from spreading.

A fire on the side of the Moutere Highway on 27 February erupted just after three weeks after a fire started in Pigeon Valley. Photo: Facbeook / Tasman-Marlborough Fire Area

Benjamin Durrant faces two charges of arson.

He first appeared in court on 7 March where the judge declined his appeal for interim name suppression.

He appealed to the High Court, arguing there was a real "risk of vigilantism or retributive offending" if he was named.

The High Court has dismissed the appeal.

Mr Durrant is accused of lighting a fire on the side of the Moutere Highway on 27 February, three weeks after a fire started in Pigeon Valley.

All residents in the Redwood Valley were evacuated after the Moutere fire spread.

He is also accused - along with a co-defendant - of lighting another fire on the side of Pigeon Valley Road on 6 March.