David Bain: Second chance starts today

David Bain (R) with supporter Joe Karam. Photo / Otago Daily Times

One of the largest and most high-profile murder trials in modern times begins today, almost 15 years after the name David Bain was first thrust into the public consciousness.

Bain is being retried in the High Court at Christchurch for the murder of his parents and three siblings in Dunedin in June 1994 - killings that rocked New Zealand at the time, and have continued to fascinate.

The multimillion-dollar retrial is expected to last up to four months, and will include evidence from about 150 prosecution witnesses and probably dozens of defence witnesses - more than testified in the original trial in Dunedin in 1995, when Bain was convicted of the murders.

He served 13 years in prison before the Privy Council recommended a new trial. He was released from jail on bail in May 2007.

The retrial date changed as recently as last week as lawyers involved in the case continued tussling in the High Court and Supreme Court over evidence and whether the trial should go ahead.

An application by Bain's lawyers for a stay of proceedings that would have stopped the retrial was rejected this week.

The retrial starts today with the selection of a jury - which has taken on extra significance because so many New Zealanders hold views on the case.

Bain's taxpayer-funded legal aid bill up to the recent Privy Council hearings was $706,127, and is expected to be well over $1 million after the trial.

Bain will be represented by an experienced legal team of Wellington lawyers Michael Reed, QC, Helen Cull, QC, and Paul Morten. His chief supporter, Joe Karam, will lend his knowledge of the case to the defence.

The Crown prosecution team is led by Auckland's Kieran Raftery and includes Dunedin prosecutor Robin Bates and Deputy Solicitor-General Cameron Mander.

The huge interest in the trial has forced the Christchurch courthouse to take measures to accommodate the large media contingent in the main High Court room.

Most of the public seating on the lower level has been removed to make way for more than 20 representatives of television, radio, newspapers and websites. Public seating will be available in an upper level.

Trial judge Justice Graham Panckhurst has allowed television and newspapers to film and take still images in the court, and radio stations to record proceedings.

Requests for online video coverage were initially rejected, but the judge later gave permission after discussions with media outlets.

* David Bain - the timeline

1994: Parents Margaret and Robin Bain and siblings Arawa, Laniet and Stephen found murdered in their Dunedin home.

1995: David Bain convicted of the killings and sentenced to life with a 16-year non-parole period.

1996: Privy Council declined to hear an appeal.

2007: Privy Council quashed the convictions and concluded "a substantial miscarriage of justice" had occurred.