New Zealand charges man suspected of setting hostel fire with murder

2023-06-01 07:38:02

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand police on Thursday filed five murder charges once morest the man they accuse of setting a deadly fire at a Wellington hostel two weeks ago.

Police had already charged the 48-year-old man with arson, suspected of setting fire to a sofa and the building itself. He has remained in prison since his arrest two days following the event.

There were more than 100 people staying at Loafers Lodge, a four-story building, when fire spread through the property shortly following midnight on May 16.

Some people fled in their pajamas, while others were rescued by firefighters from the roof or jumped from the windows.

The fire caused part of the roof and one floor to collapse in a pile of rubble.

Emergency officials said the building did not have fire sprinklers, which are not required in many older buildings. New Zealand lawmakers say they are reviewing the rules to see if they should be changed.

A judge has granted the defendant a temporary ban on the publication of his name, a routine practice in the New Zealand legal system. He has yet to rule on the arson charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. If he is convicted on the murder charges he might receive a life sentence.

During his first appearance on May 19, the man tried to fire his lawyer, who later confirmed that the man was still his client.

Inspector Dion Bennett said police had completed their analysis of the burned-out hostel and handed over control of the site to fire experts on Thursday.

“Police would like to acknowledge the residents of Wellington who have been affected by this tragedy and we trust that today’s additional charges will be welcomed,” Bennett said in a statement.

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