Bain breaks his silence

Convicted mass murderer David Bain has broken years of silence to accuse successive courts of mishandling his case as he prepares his last appeal to London's Privy Council.

A decade after he was jailed for slaughtering his entire family on a cold Dunedin morning, Bain has publicly pleaded his innocence, claiming he has the support of most New Zealanders, and fellow prisoners and guards at Paparoa prison,near Christchurch.

"Just because a bunch of judges who have never met me keep saying I am guilty, that does not mean I am," Bain told the Herald on Sunday through his friend Joe Karam.

"I was considered guilty of causing the dreadful tragedy from the day I was arrested and then my house was burnt down and the system and media will not look at things objectively since then. I know I am innocent and that is what truly matters."

We were given exclusive access to Bain through former All Black Karam - Bain's friend, confidante and financial supporter - who agreed to ask Bain a range of questions on our behalf. Bain was convicted of killing his mother Margaret, his father Robin, his sisters Arawa, 19, and Laniet, 18, and his brother Stephen, 14, early on June 20, 1994.

Like Peter Ellis, his case has been the subject of appeals and inquiries, polarising legal experts, politicians and the public in the process. Supporters believe Robin Bain killed the Bain family before shooting himself.

Bain, 32, is awaiting what will surely be his last appeal for innocence as he applies for a second hearing before the Privy Council - in one of its last New Zealand cases.

Bain said: "Everyone concerned does not want to put up their hand and admit the mistakes, but rather will fight to the bitter end to try to protect the reputation of the system and those involved."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY