A 50 year-old-man, who has name suppression, is accused of murdering five people by setting the boarding house alight in May, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The High Court in Wellington is expected to see CCTV footage on Monday of a man lighting a second and ultimately fatal fire at Loafers Lodge in Newtown.
A 50-year-old man, who has name suppression, is accused of murdering five people by setting the boarding house alight in May, 2023.
The court has already seen footage of a man, who the Crown said was the accused, lighting a fire under a couch.
Two other residents extinguished that fire, but the man lit another in a hall cupboard about an hour later.
According to stills shown to the court on Friday, he put a number of items into the cupboard, including a blanket, and set it on fire.
The defence was not expected to dispute his identity, but argue a defence of insanity.
On Friday, the court saw footage of the man lighting the first of the two fires, lighting an object before placing it under a couch in the level three lounge.
Residents have told the court about being met with thick black smoke and searing heat, and fearing they would die in the blaze.
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