catherine groenestein/Stuff
Firefighters and police attended the fire scene at the Manaia Rd hall on August 3 this year. (File photo)
The court is awaiting a mental health assessment regarding the homeless man accused of deliberately setting fire to a rural community hall.
Lance Matthews, 47, of no fixed abode, was charged in relation to the August 3 fire, which damaged the Kapuni War Memorial Hall on Manaia Rd.
The fire, which was reported at 8.30am, saw crews from Kaponga, Manaia and Okaiawa attend in response.
The blaze caused moderate damage to the back of the hall, as well as inside the building.
His case was dealt with in the Hāwera District Court on Tuesday, where Judge Gregory Hikaka was advised a mental health assessment of Matthews would take place in early September.
Judge Hikaka remanded the case until September 19, and entered a deemed not guilty plea to the charge in the meantime.
