A court's been told the man who lit the deadly Loafers Lodge hostel fire in Wellington, changed his story while considering his plea

The defendant's on trial at the High Court in Wellington, charged with arson and five counts of murder.

He doesn't dispute lighting the blaze, but claims an insanity defence.

The man initially denied everything and told experts he wasn't hearing voices.

But Crown prosecutors say he backtracked on this around the time he was considering his not guilty plea by reason of insanity.

Only one of six psychologists who assessed him believed he was insane.

He's previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.