Ex-pupils charged over school arson named

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James Hargest College principal Andy Wood surveys the arson damage at the school's senior campus in this file photo. Photo by Allison Rudd

Two ex-pupils charged with setting a fire which destroyed three classrooms and caused $700,000 of damage at James Hargest College in Invercargill have been named.

Campbell Leaf (19) and Duncan Robert Roderick MacRae (18) did not seek continuation of name suppression when they appeared before Judge Raoul Neave in the Invercargill District Court today.

They are jointly charged with entering the Layard St senior campus and arson on January 3, and entering the school and setting fire to picnic tables on October 7 last year.

They were remanded without plea to appear for a post-committal conference on March 13.

Leaf was remanded to the same day on three unrelated charges. Detective Chris Lucy, of the Invercargill Police, confirmed the teenagers were former pupils.

The January 3 fire destroyed three classrooms in a six-classroom block which was being renovated and caused major smoke and water damage elsewhere.

A car owned by the school which was parked nearby was also seriously damaged. The cost of repairing the fire damage has been estimated at least $700,000.