Man accused of starting hostel fire is charged with murdering five victims

Firefighters outside the Loafers Lodge hostel in central Wellington, New Zealand, on May 16 (Nick James/NZ Herald/AP)

New Zealand police have filed five murder charges against the man they say lit a deadly fire at a Wellington hostel two weeks ago.

Police had earlier filed arson charges against the 48-year-old, accusing him of setting fire to a couch and to the hostel itself.