Survivors give evidence in Loafers Lodge murder and arson trial

Wednesday 27 August 2025 · 6 outlets · 7 reports · updated Wed 27 Aug 2025, 7:00pm

In this story High Court

Former residents of the Wellington hostel have described their harrowing escapes during the 2023 Loafers Lodge fire. During the High Court trial, jurors viewed footage of a man jumping from a third-storey window and heard an emergency call from a survivor on a roof. The accused man denies murdering five people by setting the building alight.

How they headlined it

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1. RNZWed 27 Aug 2025, 6:35am

   Former Loafers Lodge resident describes escaping deadly blaze (opens in new tab)

   • Loafers Lodge trial: Man who jumped out window scared of 'going up in flames' (opens in new tab) Wed 27 Aug 2025, 6:22pm
2. 1NewsWed 27 Aug 2025, 1:35pm

   Loafers Lodge survivor: 'It was either burn in my room or jump' (opens in new tab)

   • Loafers Lodge trial: Emergency call from the roof played in court (opens in new tab) Wed 27 Aug 2025, 1:35pm
3. Otago Daily TimesWed 27 Aug 2025, 1:52pm

   Survivor describes escaping deadly Loafers Lodge fire (opens in new tab)

4. The Post via RNZWed 27 Aug 2025, 2:59pm

   'You could hear the cracking, wood, glass': Survivor of deadly Loafers Lodge fire (opens in new tab)

   Also on The Press (opens in new tab), RNZ (opens in new tab)

5. NZ HeraldWed 27 Aug 2025, 7:00pm

   Loafers Lodge murder trial: Video of man leaping from building to escape fire shown to jury (opens in new tab)