Emergency services at the scene of a house fire on Hanson Grove in Lower Hutt's Stokes Valley on 5 November 2024. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker
The niece of an elderly man killed when his home burned down in an alleged arson attack says she's happy to hear there have been a number of arrests.
Four men have now been charged with a combination of murder, arson and participating in a criminal group.
Three of the men, aged in their 20s and 30s, appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court on Wednesday, and another, aged 26, is expected to appear on Thursday afternoon.
A homicide investigation was launched in November after one of three arsons at the Hanson Grove block of flats. The first took place on 10 October, another on 14 October, and the third - in which Moller was critically injured - on 5 November, all during the early hours of the morning.
Ian David Moller, 82, died after an arson attack in November 2024. Photo: Supplied
Denise Harrison is the niece of Ian Moller, who died aged 82 in November.
She said she felt some satisfaction when police told her there had been progress.
"Four months sounds like a long time, but I know that these investigations can take a lot of work ... I think the police have done exceptionally well," she said.
She said she would be following the progress of the court case, and hoped it would lead to a resolution.
Three others appeared on Wednesday on similar charges.
The fire that killed Moller was the third alleged attack on Hanson Grove in the space of a month.
Emergency services at the scene of a house fire on Hanson Grove in Lower Hutt's Stokes Valley on 5 November 2024. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker
Police continue to investigate the three fires.
Charges against one person relating to the first blaze were dropped last month.
Anyone with information has been asked report it on 105, with reference file number 241105/2249 or quote Operation Sove.
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