Tears and cheers as the man who murdered five people when he set fire to Wellington's Loafers Lodge in 2023 is sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of 22 years
Tears and cheers as the man who murdered five people when he set fire to Wellington's Loafers Lodge in 2023 is sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of 22 years
19 December 2025
Esarona Lologa stood in silence, his hands together and staring at the floor as he received his sentence.
People in the public gallery could be seen crying - some holding photos of their loved ones.
Some smiled and punched the air as Lologa's sentence was read out.
Twenty people gave victim impact statements, one says she'll never be the same knowing her brothers life was cut mercilessly short.
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