Tonia Bennett, now 18, was appearing for sentence today in the High Court at Auckland after she admitted a charge of murdering Lynette Chapman in Pukekohe in January last year.
She was sentenced to the mandatory life imprisonment but Justice Geoffrey Venning also imposed a non-parole period of 11-1/2 years.
"Your offending on the night was stupid and had a tragic result but was committed in the context of your very troubled personal circumstances," he told Bennett.
The court also heard moving victim impact statements from the family of Ms Chapman.
Until today, Bennett's name was suppressed but the suppression order expired when she appeared in the dock for sentencing.
Ms Chapman, 49, a mother of three, died after several fires were lit at her house. Her body was badly burnt and identified through DNA.
Another teenager, a 19-year-old male, was jailed for two years after admitting one charge of manslaughter and two of arson. He was told he could apply for home detention if a suitable house could be found. His name suppression continued today.
Bennett also admitted two counts of arson and was jailed for six years on each charge, to be served concurrently.
