The man charged over the fatal Loafers Lodge fire in New Zealand has appeared in court in Wellington.
The 48-year-old was charged with two counts of arson – one relating to a couch fire in the hostel earlier on Monday evening and a second relating to the fatal fire that broke out two hours later.
Police allege that, in the second fire, the accused caused intentional or reckless damage to property when he knew that damage to life was also likely.
The charges carry a combined maximum sentence of 21 years in prison.
The accused made hand signs through the first half of the hearing, regularly talked over the judge before sitting down out of sight inside the dock.
He was animated during the hearing, at one point threatening to fire his lawyer, Douglas Ewen.
The alleged arsonist wanted bail, but it was opposed by police and his lawyer did not apply.
According to the charge sheet, he has no fixed address. No pleas were entered during the hearing.
A court forensic nurse and psychiatrist met with the man this morning, but Judge Jan Kelly said: "There are mental health issues that are yet to be fully canvassed."
He is also facing a historical breach of supervision charge.
The suspect has been remanded in custody and will appear in court again on June 19.
In New Zealand, news organisations can apply for permission to film and photograph proceedings, but Judge Kelly denied all media requests to document Friday's hearing.
She said it was not appropriate to grant the requests, but she also understood the importance of fair and open justice and said she would reconsider the applications at the next hearing.
Police are continuing their investigation into the deaths and have warned they could lay additional and more serious charges in the future.
They have revised the official death toll to five, saying they have located all of these victims and have removed four from the site.
A sixth person was believed to have died but police have not yet been able to access parts of the building as the ground on the highest level of the lodge is unstable.
"I can only confirm that five are dead because that's what we have located," Inspector Dion Bennett said.
"The third floor in particular is quite dangerous, there are still parts of that floor that we can't cross … so that's one of the contributing factors for being unable to retrieve that [fifth] person at this stage."
Police have now accounted for 99 people, reducing the number of people missing to fewer than 10.
Inspector Bennett said there may have been visitors or guests in the 94-room building at the time of the fire, and added that a number of families had been in touch with police in recent days with concerns about their loved ones.
"If you are one of those families who are affected and who are waiting, rest assured that we are moving as quickly as we can without compromising the investigation," he said.
