Jury Faces Crucial Decision in Deadly Wellington Boarding House Fire Amid Systemic Safety Failures

In Wellington, New Zealand, a jury's deliberation over a tragic fire that claimed five lives spotlights a grim reality familiar to many Americans: when government neglects safety standards and regulatory enforcement, innocent lives pay the ultimate price. This case is not just about one man's alleged crime; it’s about systemic failure that echoes across Western democracies, including our own. How Did a Preventable Tragedy Become a Death Sentence for Five Residents? The accused, a 50-year-old man battling schizophrenia, stands charged with murder and arson after two fires devastated Loafers Lodge, a dilapidated 92-bed hostel housing some of society’s most vulnerable—including...