Wellington, New Zealand, Sep 26 (AP) — A man was convicted of murder and arson in a New Zealand court for setting on fire the boarding house where he lived, resulting in the death of five fellow residents. The High Court in Wellington found Esarona David Lologa guilty after a jury deliberated for less than three days, ultimately rejecting his defense of insanity. Lologa, aged 50, had been granted name suppression during his five-week trial, but this was lifted following his conviction.
Prosecutors acknowledged that Lologa had schizophrenia when he ignited two fires in the 92-bed hostel in May 2023. However, they argued that his actions were not due to his mental illness but were a means to secure relocation to different accommodations.
The defense maintained that Lologa was not guilty by reason of insanity, arguing that he couldn’t comprehend the wrongness of his actions. They contested the claim that Lologa sought to move elsewhere, though prosecutors cited his complaints about living conditions at Loafers Lodge as motive.
Lologa initially set a couch ablaze in a communal area, which led to an evacuation. After residents extinguished the fire, he returned, setting cushions and a blanket aflame in a cupboard. He departed the building without raising the alarm or contacting emergency services. Evidence presented included recordings of distressing calls to fire departments and accounts of tenants, including one man who escaped by jumping from a window.
The prosecution presented security footage identifying Lologa as the arsonist, which he denied during police questioning.
Among those who perished were vulnerable people, such as social services clients, older and disabled residents, and local hospital nurses. The victims included Michael Wahrlich, a well-known street performer, Liam Hockings, a familiar local tour guide, Kenneth Barnard, Peter O'Sullivan, and Melvin Parun.
Under New Zealand law, murder results in a mandatory life sentence, with the offender ineligible for parole for at least ten years. Arson can lead to an imprisonment term of up to 14 years. Lologa will be sentenced in November.
Meanwhile, four individuals face manslaughter charges related to their management of the boarding house and the fire safety systems. Some witnesses described the premises as hazardous. The trial for these individuals, who have denied the charges, is yet to be scheduled.
The tragic incident has kindled public anger over boarding houses' poor conditions, often accommodating low-income individuals who have limited housing options. At the time of the fire, Loafers Lodge lacked fire sprinklers, which older buildings are not legally required to retrofit.
Subsequent investigations revealed many boarding houses shared similar deficiencies. Although multiple reviews and inquiries have been initiated, legislation remains unchanged. A lawmaker is currently pursuing cross-party collaboration for a bill to create a register for boarding houses and their operators, enforcing record-keeping. (AP)
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