The brother of a man convicted in the Loafers Lodge fire is calling for urgent changes to mental health legislation, warning that without faster action, more lives will be lost. Esarona Lologa was sentenced Friday to 22 years in prison for the murder of five people and arson.
Loafers Lodge Fire and Calls for Legislative Change
Lologa, who has schizophrenia, had multiple prior convictions and was hospitalized eight times before escaping a facility weeks before the fatal blaze in Wellington in May 2023.
Melvin Parun was among those killed, and his brother, Lou, told 1News the current law allowed the tragedy to occur. “I don’t believe that when you’re in that position that you’ve got any rights,” he said. “You’ve had 50 convictions in this particular case, serious convictions, and people are still letting him get away.”
Health New Zealand has stated that all appropriate processes were followed at the time. However, the government is currently working to amend the law.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said, “The repeal and replacement of the Mental Health Act puts people at the centre of care but acknowledges that sometimes compulsory treatment needs to be an option for the safety of individuals and the community.” He added that the Mental Health Bill has been reported back from select committee and is awaiting a second reading.
Lou Parun fears the changes are not happening quickly enough, and expressed concern that another similar tragedy could occur. “Well, I think it’s going to happen again if they don’t change it,” he said. “Make sure that somebody is not wandering around the city or wandering around the country, capable of doing very bad things to people,” he pleaded.
Lou Parun remembered his brother Melvin as a fun, thoughtful person and a talented painter, and he hopes his death will not be in vain.
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