Jury size reduced during Loafers Lodge fire trial

Thursday 4 September 2025 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated Thu 4 Sep 2025, 8:31pm

The jury in the Loafers Lodge fire trial has decreased to 11 members after one person left due to ill health. Defence lawyers claim the 50-year-old accused was unwell at the time of the fatal Wellington hostel fire because he had not taken his schizophrenia medication for a month.

How they headlined it

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1. The PostThu 4 Sep 2025, 1:39pm

   Loafers Lodge jury loses one member (opens in new tab)

2. RNZThu 4 Sep 2025, 6:33pm

   Loafers Lodge accused had stopped taking schizophrenia meds when he lit fire, lawyer says (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldThu 4 Sep 2025, 8:31pm

   Loafers Lodge fire trial: Insanity defence raised for accused (opens in new tab)