A man charged with murdering a woman whose body was found in a burning Auckland house has pleaded guilty to lighting the fire.
The 28-year-old man, whose name is suppressed, is charged with the murder of Jacqueline Blackbourn, 43.
The Crown have this morning laid a third charge, of rape, against the man. He has pleaded not guilty to that and the murder charges.
His trial begins at the High Court at Auckland.
Ms Blackbourn's body was found in a burning bedroom at a house on View Rd in the Auckland suburb of Glenfield on the night of June 26 last year.
Police say Ms Blackbourn, who came to New Zealand from England 20 years ago, suffered a "violent death''.
The jury will hear from 38 witnesses and the trial is expected to take three weeks.
