Wellington High Court. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The jury in the Loafers Lodge murder trial will continue with 10 members after a juror was discharged on Friday morning due to illness.
The 50-year-old defendant, whose name is suppressed, is charged with five counts of murder and one of arson after setting the Wellington hostel alight in May 2023.
There's no dispute he lit the fire, but he's pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
The jury has been considering its verdict for two days.
Its number dropped to eleven in the second week of the trial when Justice Peter Churchman discharged an unwell juror.
It's now down to 10 members, who will begin their third day of deliberation on Friday morning.
The defence says the man - who has schizophrenia - lit the fire when he was experiencing serious psychotic symptoms.
But the Crown says he knew lighting the fire was wrong, and he did so because he did not like living at Loafers Lodge and wanted better accommodation.
The jury has heard just over four weeks of evidence.
The Crown and defence delivered their closing arguments earlier this week, and Justice Peter Churchman summed up the case on Tuesday afternoon.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
