Christchurch Police are treating the death of a teenage girl in a house fire yesterday as a homicide.
Detective Inspector Virginia Le Bas says a post mortem examination today indicated that the 13-year old girl whose body was found at the house had died "in unnatural circumstances".
"There is still more work to be done to confirm the cause of death," Detective Inspector Le Bas says. "The fire at the house may or may not be connected to the death."
The identity of the girl has not been released as formal identification has yet to be completed. She lived at the Barrington Street address with her mother.
Detective Inspector Le Bas says Police are following strong lines of enquiry and have been speaking to a number of people.
"During the course of our enquiries last night we spoke to two males, aged 34 and 40, who were arrested on charges which may or may not be directly related to the suspicious death. They have been remanded in custody and will appear in court at Rangiora on Tuesday.
"However we are continuing with a comprehensive homicide investigation.
"Today Police have continued extensively canvassing the area around the house and speaking to neighbours.
"The family of the deceased girl are cooperating fully with the enquiry. They are naturally extremely distraught at this tragedy and have made a plea for their privacy to be respected."
ENDS
NOTE: Any identification details will be issued by media release as soon as they are available.