Bill for Bain retrial nears $4m - so far

David Bain's legal aid bill for defence costs is officially the biggest recorded in New Zealand, having topped $706,000 even before the retrial began three months ago. Photo / Pool

The retrial of David Bain has broken the record for the most expensive criminal case in New Zealand history, costing taxpayers nearly $4 million so far and set to rise further.

Figures released last night by the Legal Services Agency show a further $2,056,495.57 on the defence case for the retrial.

Spokeswoman Robyn Nicholas said the final figure could be higher when all the invoices have been assessed and processed.

Legal aid payments can include costs for support counsel, expert witnesses, forensic tests, investigators and travel.

Bain's team flew a number of international experts from as far away as England to give evidence.

Crown Law spokeswoman Jan Fulstow said the bill for the prosecution case was $1,179,799.25.

After the not-guilty verdict was reached by the jury, Bain's lawyer, Michael Reed, QC, said the second prosecution should never have been brought by the Crown after the Privy Council quashed his convictions in 2007.

"It has been ridiculously expensive. Millions have been spent, it has been a tragedy," said Mr Reed.

Detective Inspector Ross Pinkham headed the second police inquiry once Bain's convictions were quashed by the Privy Council in 2007. He said police spent $375,000 to gather evidence for the retrial, including investigation costs as well as travel and accommodation for police staff and witnesses.

That figure did not include the salaries of up to 30 police working fulltime for the past two years.

The defence for Bain was already the biggest legal aid bill ever, topping $706,000 even before the second murder trial began three months ago. That bill included the defence costs for the original trial, Court of Appeal hearings and the Privy Council case.

COURT COSTS

Bain retrial costs and counting

* Police$375,000
* Courts$142,000
* Prosecution$1,179,799.25
* Defence$2,056,495.57
TOTAL $3,753,294.82

Legal aid for original trial and legal appeals

* Original trial$149,180.72
* Original Court of Appeal hearing$101,208.65
* Privy Council appeal$455,737.76
TOTAL $706,127.13