Received

A mother of two who stole the identity of the pilot killed in the Sea World helicopter tragedy in a bid to dodge a traffic ticket has had her fine doubled in court.

Stephanie Louise Bennett wept as she pleaded guilty to fraud by dishonestly inducing a person to act and one count of obtaining or dealing with another's identity to commit an indictable offence in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Friday.

Outside court, Bennett sobbed quietly as her lawyer apologised for the distress and hurt she inflicted on the pilot's grieving family.

The 33-year-old confessed to using Ash Jenkinson's identity after she was caught using her mobile phone behind the wheel on December 15.

It wasn't the first time Bennett had been caught on her mobile while driving, but this time she could not afford the $1078 fine and the four demerit points she faced meant she would lose her licence.

Bennett had been desperate to get her life on track and pay down a debt she already owed to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry.

She had just started a new job as a forklift driver at a warehouse and she feared she would lose her job without a licence.

So she scoured the obituary notices to pin the fine on another driver.

After several attempts to nominate other drivers failed, she chose the details belonging to Ashley Jenkinson.

She filled out his name and date of birth and created a fake address.

Bennett had never met Mr Jenkinson or his partner Kosha Richardson and his name didn't ring a bell with her.

According to her lawyer Zane Chapman, Bennett didn't pay much attention to the news.

His client had no idea Mr Jenkinson was a pilot who had been killed when two Sea World helicopters collided midair on January 2 and was oblivious to the widespread publicity surrounding the tragedy.

"She has nominated someone online ... it was quite easy to do," Mr Chapman said.

"That is in no way to diminish my client's conduct ... what she has done is dishonest and she is remorseful.

"There is no excuse for her conduct."

Mr Chapman said Bennett was deeply embarrassed and had been subjected to enormous public humiliation.

"Her name and face have been all over the media and on Facebook. You Google her and she comes up."

Magistrate Mark Howden acknowledged Bennett had made a "grave mistake", one that would have been deeply distressing to Mr Jenkinson's grieving family who reported the identity theft, but declined to give a victim impact statement.

Bennett choked back tears as the magistrate said her deception "struck at the heart of the justice system".

"I accept that you have been publicly humiliated at work among friends and acquaintances," Mr Howden said.

"And I accept that that humiliation is in all likelihood ongoing ... there will be an impact on your social wellbeing - clearly there already has been."

Bennett was fined $2000 - almost double the original fine - and a conviction was recorded.

Outside the court, Mr Chapman apologised on behalf of his client, who disguised her face in a scarf and glasses.

"She wishes to express her sincerest apologies to the families, specifically to anyone she's hurt," Mr Chapman said.

"She is quite distressed. She is extremely remorseful and she's absolutely so sorry for what she's done."

© AAP 2023

A man accused of starting the fatal Loafers Lodge hostel fire in New Zealand has appeared in court.

The 48-year-old man appeared in Wellington District Court on Friday charged with two counts of arson.

He has been granted name suppression and remanded in custody for a month.

Local media report the man appeared in a black hooded jumper and made gestures toward the media before declaring his innocence.

"Someone else done it," he said, according to the NZ Herald, before pointing towards his lawyer, Doug Ewen, and telling him he was fired.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.

At least six people were killed in the Wellington hostel fire.

Police have been interviewing survivors and reviewing CCTV evidence from the time of the blaze.

"The investigation into the fire is ongoing and police have not ruled out further, more serious charges in relation to the deaths at the scene," a police statement read.

Acting Wellington District Commander Dion Bennett said police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the fire.

Alongside the homicide investigation, police continue to work on recovering bodies from the charred building.

There have been six confirmed deaths from the fire, with Insp Bennett saying earlier in the week his "gut feeling" was that the death toll could climb.

Chief coroner Anna Tutton said she would work with police and other specialists to identify the dead.

"This identification process can be lengthy and complex, requiring a careful and methodical approach to ensure there are no mistakes," Judge Tutton said.

"Victims will be treated with dignity and respect as we work through this challenging process."

Insp Bennett said the scene investigation would be painstakingly slow, taking several days, as disaster victim identification (DVI) officers attend to the work.

Debris is stacked up to a metre high in places.

Police have not updated the number of missing people since Wednesday when they said fewer than 20 people were unaccounted for, a tally that includes the six confirmed dead.

More than 100 people were in the 92-bed facility, described on its website as "Wellington's most convenient and affordable accommodation option".

No victims have been named.

The building was recently used to house 501 deportees from Australia.

It was compliant with New Zealand safety regulations - which do not require sprinklers - and recently received its annual building warrant of fitness.

The government said it would review regulations for high-density accommodation following the fire, New Zealand's worst in many years.

© AAP 2023

New Zealand Police are confident they have their man after laying two charges of arson after the deadly Loafers Lodge hostel fire.

A man will appear in Wellington District Court on Friday who police allege started the blaze on Tuesday.

At least six people were killed in the Wellington hostel fire.

Police have been interviewing survivors and reviewing CCTV evidence from the time of the fire, laying the charges late on Thursday.

"The investigation into the fire is ongoing and police have not ruled out further, more serious charges in relation to the deaths at the scene," a police statement read.

Acting Wellington District Commander Dion Bennett said he was "confident that police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the fire".

Local media report the charged man is a resident of Loafers Lodge aged in his 40s.

Alongside the homicide investigation, police continue to work on recovering bodies from the charred building.

There are six confirmed dead from the fire, with Insp Bennett saying earlier in the week his "gut feeling" is that the death toll may climb.

Two were extracted on Thursday and taken to Wellington Hospital's morgue.

Police expect to transport another two bodies on Friday.

Insp Bennett said the scene investigation would be painstakingly slow, taking several days, as disaster victim identification (DVI) officers attend to the work.

Debris is stacked up to a metre high in places.

Police have not updated the number of missing people since Wednesday, when they said fewer than 20 people were unaccounted for, a tally which includes the six confirmed bodies.

There were just over 100 people in the 92-bed facility, described on its website as "Wellington's most convenient and affordable accommodation option".

No victims have been named.

It remains to be seen whether any of the victims have arrived from Australia, as the building was recently used to house 501 deportees.

The building was compliant with New Zealand safety regulations - which do not require sprinklers - and just received its annual building warrant of fitness.

The government says it will review regulations for high-density accommodation following the fire, New Zealand's worst in many years.

© AAP 2023