South African charged with 76 murders after shock arson confession

Suspect had told inquiry into Johannesburg apartment fire that he started blaze last year to burn a body

A man who confessed to starting a deadly fire at an apartment building in one of South Africa’s worst disasters has been charged with 76 counts of murder and 86 counts of attempted murder.

The suspect was also charged with arson and was ordered to be kept in police custody until a bail hearing next month. He faces a possible sentence of life in prison. South Africa has no death penalty.