Auckland, March 18 NZPA - A teenager who admitted his role in the arson death of Pukekohe woman Lynette Chapman last year may be freed if he can find a suitable address to serve a home detention sentence.

The 19-year-old man, who cannot be named, admitted the manslaughter of Ms Chapman, 49, who died when her house in Pukekohe was set on fire in January last year.

In the High Court at Auckland today he was jailed for two years on one count of manslaughter and two of arson after admitting his part as a "lookout" while a girl allegedly started a fire at Ms Chapman's house.

The two-year sentence means he is eligible for home detention, but though Justice Christopher Allan thought him a suitable candidate, the address submitted was not deemed suitable.

It means the offender will head to jail to start with, but Justice Allan granted him leave to apply again for home detention should a suitable address be found.

The 19-year-old had gone through a depositions hearing in the middle of last year but changed his plea to guilty in December.

His lawyer, Gary Gotlieb, said his client would testify at the murder trial of the girl, which is due to start next month.

Mr Gotlieb said the 19-year-old was unsophisticated and naive and would require some courses to help him obtain life skills.

Justice Allan said he believed that what transpired was beyond the teen's comprehension, but that he had taken part in an action of which there was a risk that something more serious would happen.

Justice Allan set a starting point for the offending of five years' imprisonment but reduced it by 60 percent because of his guilty plea, his youth and his willingness to testify at the girl's trial.

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