'Someone else done it': Man charged in deadly NZ hostel fire / Photo: Marty MELVILLE - AFP
-
South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
-
Post-election pressures complicate US and Israeli decisions on Iran
-
South African voters report smoother local election but declining IEC trust
-
UN members approve talks on treaty protocol against environmental crime
-
Dolly Parton museum and Nashville hotel open after singer’s death
-
Family-run West Sussex beach café prepares for first winter season
-
George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading
-
CT scans reveal health and burial clues from Egypt’s Braided Lady mummy
-
British buyers pay substantial premiums for period-home appearance
-
Oxford faces complaints over lecturer’s classroom attire
-
Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge
-
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins reach International Championship snooker final
-
Dawn of War 4 developers chose Adeptus Mechanicus for tactical variety
-
New Zealand and Tonga meet for place in Rugby League World Cup final
-
Italy face unbeaten South Africa in Turin Nations Championship match
-
Reports of unsafe AI-toy responses renew calls for child-safety rules
-
ChatGPT interactive interface feature tested across six custom tools
-
Juneau food network combines difficult supply routes with deep sharing traditions
-
Freshways milk-price cut deepens pressure on UK dairy farms
-
India climbs green-transition ranking after first emissions decline in 25 years
-
Labour and National remain virtually tied as New Zealand vote count advances
-
Trump names Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff after midterm losses
-
The Good Daughter adapts Karin Slaughter thriller with Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy
-
Restored Albanian tower houses anchor new rural tourism trail
-
Heavy-lift drone evacuates wounded Ukrainian soldier from frontline kill zone
-
Sonia Gandhi reflects on family tragedy and reluctant political career
-
Morrison says West Brom recovered after pressure from successive derby losses
-
Pope Leo begins three-country South American tour in Uruguay
-
Britain considers 2027 state visit for Ukraine’s Zelensky
-
Khawaja says entire Australia camp knew of 2018 ball-tampering plan
-
Anna Miltina Confronted with Racism Allegations on ProSieben Show
-
November Foraging Guide: Edible Mushrooms and Critical Safety Protocols
-
German Auto Giants Face Existential Crisis as China Sales Plummet
-
Microsoft Updates Xbox PC App with 60% Faster Startup and Redesigned Interface
-
Cause of Death Revealed for 'Ellen' Producer Matthew Wright
'Someone else done it': Man charged in deadly NZ hostel fire
A 48-year-old man accused of igniting a New Zealand hostel fire that killed at least five people claimed that someone else started the blaze during a court appearance Friday.
During the hearing, he shouted: "I need bail, I need a good lawyer. Someone else done it."
Prosecutors charged him with two counts of arson: setting the four-storey Loafers Lodge on fire in the early hours of Tuesday, and burning a couch earlier in the building.
Wearing a dark hooded top, he gestured frantically with his hands and paced from side to side in the dock during his first hearing at Wellington District Court.
The man, whose name was suppressed by the court, was remanded in custody.
He did not enter a formal plea.
Police have said they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the blaze.
On Friday, police revised the confirmed death toll to five, after firefighters previously said six bodies had been located.
Police inspector and acting district commander Dion Bennett told reporters that "less than 10" people were still unaccounted for, but declined to give an exact figure.
A.Rodriguezv--AMWN
