A woman has pleaded guilty to murdering South Auckland man Peter Dixon, who was found dead in his Manurewa home after it caught fire in February 2012.
The 47-year-old woman, who has name suppression, entered the charge when she appeared in the High Court at Auckland this morning.
She also pleaded guilty to four counts of arson, one of attempted arson and four charges of theft by a person in a special relationship - amounting to $12,500.
The four theft and three of the arson charges related to alleged offending between November 2011 and January 2012 at the woman's workplace.
The fourth arson and the attempted arson charge related to alleged offending on the day Mr Dixon died.
Emergency services were called to a fire at Mr Dixon's home about 5am on February 27, 2012.
They found him dead in his bedroom, where it is believed the fire started
It is understood the house had smoke detectors, which alerted other members of Mr Dixon's family living at the house and allowed them to escape.
It was initially thought the blaze was accidental but Detective Inspector Dave Lynch said the charges against the woman came after a "lengthy and complex" police inquiry.
In a death notice published in the Herald, Mr Dixon, know as Mita, was described as a much-loved father and father-in-law and cherished poppa.
The woman is due to be sentenced on September 16.
- By Brendan Manning of APNZ
