Man charged with murder after house fire

A man has been charged with murder after a house fire claimed the life of a 48-year-old woman north of Ruatoria last year.

Mary-Ann August-Akuhata died from injuries suffered in the fire in the settlement of Tikitiki on October 10 last year.

Police say a 55-year-old man will appear in Gisborne District Court on Friday charged with her murder.

He is understood to be the dead woman's husband who suffered burns in the fire.

Tairawhiti fire commander Charlie Turei told NZ Newswire at the time of the fire that the husband was "absolutely traumatised".

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