Man accused of starting New Zealand hostel fire faces five murder charges
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Version 0 of 1. Suspect, 48, was earlier charged with arson for allegedly setting fire to a couch and the hostel in Wellington New Zealand police have filed five murder charges against the man they say lit a deadly fire at a Wellington hostel two weeks ago. Police had earlier filed arson charges against the 48-year-old, accusing him of setting fire to a couch and to the hostel itself. He has remained in jail since his arrest two days after the fire. More than 100 people were staying at the four-storey Loafers Lodge hostel when the fire tore through the building soon after midnight on 16 May. Some people fled in their pyjamas and others were rescued by firefighters from the roof or jumped from windows. The fire caused parts of the roof and a floor to collapse. Emergency officials said the building had no fire sprinklers, which are not required in many older buildings. New Zealand lawmakers say they are reviewing building regulations to see if they need changing. Among the five men who died in the fire was 67-year-old Mike Wahrlich, a street performer who was widely known in Wellington as Mike the Juggler. A judge has granted the defendant temporary name suppression, a routine practice in the New Zealand legal system. He has yet to enter a plea on the arson charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. If found guilty of murder he would face life imprisonment. During his first court appearance 19 May the man tried to fire his lawyer, who later confirmed the defendant remained his client. Insp Dion Bennett said police finished their examination of the burnt-out hostel on Thursday and were handing the scene back to fire authorities. “Police would like to acknowledge the residents of Wellington who have been affected by this tragedy, and we hope that today’s upgraded charges will be welcomed,” Bennett said in a statement. |