Defence claims Loafers Lodge accused was insane during fatal fire

Monday 15 September 2025 · 6 outlets · 4 reports · updated Mon 15 Sep 2025, 8:35pm

In this story High Court

A psychiatrist has told a High Court jury that the 50-year-old man accused of murdering five people in the Loafers Lodge fire was insane at the time. The defendant, whose identity is suppressed, denies the charges and has previously been jailed for an assault involving a weapon.

How they headlined it

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1. Otago Daily TimesMon 15 Sep 2025, 4:03pm

   Loafers Lodge fire 'a very insane thing to do' - lawyer (opens in new tab)

2. The Press via RNZMon 15 Sep 2025, 4:30pm

   Loafers Lodge accused experienced serious psychotic relapse - defence psychiatrist (opens in new tab)

   Also on Waikato Times (opens in new tab), RNZ (opens in new tab), The Post (opens in new tab)

3. RNZMon 15 Sep 2025, 7:55pm

   Loafers Lodge accused's previous convictions read to court (opens in new tab)

4. NZ HeraldMon 15 Sep 2025, 8:35pm

   Loafers Lodge accused’s previous convictions read to High Court jury (opens in new tab)