Story: Violent crime

Empire Hotel fire, 1995

Empire Hotel fire, 1995

In 1996 Hamilton man Alan Lory was convicted of manslaughter and arson after lighting a fire at the Empire Hotel (pictured), which killed six residents. Lory set a couch on fire after being asked to move out of the hotel. Five of the victims died in the blaze and the sixth died after jumping from the building. Lory was released from prison in 2009.

Using this item

Fairfax NZ, Sunday News
Reference: 5 February 1995

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How to cite this page:

Greg Newbold, 'Violent crime - Mass homicides, 1990 –', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/ephemera/46568/empire-hotel-fire-1995 (accessed 6 June 2023)

Story by Greg Newbold, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 18 Mar 2019