The defendant, whose identity is suppressed, is on trial at the High Court in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
One count of arson has been dismissed in the Loafers Lodge trial.
Justice Peter Churchman dismissed the charge relating to a sofa being set alight on the night of 15 May, hours before the fatal blaze to the building was lit in the early hours of 16 May.
Justice Churchman told the jury that he was dismissing the charge with the agreement of the lawyers, "on the basis that it complicates the issue".
The count of arson for setting the building alight in the early hours of 16 May stands.
The defendant, whose identity is suppressed, is on trial at the High Court in Wellington and is also charged with five counts of murder for setting the Wellington boarding house alight in 2023.
It's not disputed he lit two fires, but the man's lawyers intend to use the defence of insanity.
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