KEY POINTS:
Incorrect information about legal aid costs for the David Bain trial has led the Legal Services Agency (LSA) to consider the unprecedented move of publicly releasing the official estimate for Bain's defence.
Bain's chief supporter Joe Karam has been reported as saying the defence needs up to $4 million to hire an extra four defence counsel; hire office space; and find, interview and transport witnesses as well as prepare for trial and pre-trial hearings.
Bain's lead lawyer Michael Reed QC has been quoted as saying the whole Bain case could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $15 million.
Previously, legal aid costs have not been released for any case prior to sentencing.
This is because the LSA believes releasing the costs can unduly influence a case as it progresses through the courts.
Counsel do not usually release the numbers either.
But the LSA's national manager of legal aid grants Robyn Nicholas, from Wellington, said the publicity of incorrect information on the possible cost of Bain's defence raised the possibility of the LSA reconsidering its policy in this case because the wrong figures, in turn, could also lead to false expectations or influence the case.
"The agency is considering how it should proceed on the matter of how the figures are going out to the public ... whether we need to correct the information by putting the correct information out there."
