David Bain trial: Jury retires - will reconvene tomorrow

The jury has been sent out to consider its verdict in the David Bain case.

Justice Graeme Panckhurst finished his closing address just before 4.30pm and sent the jury away to begin deliberations.

But they came back half an hour later and indicated they would like to begin deliberating tomorrow morning.

They have a question for the judge, the contents of which cannot be reported and will be answered by Justice Panckhurst tomorrow morning.

Justice Panckhurst had earlier told them there was no requirement to sit on into the night.

"You are the best ones to determine when you've reached the point that it's appropriate to break. The last thing we ask of you is to endeavour to continue in this formidable task, when you are tired or even exhausted," Justice Panckhurst told the jury.

The jury will return to court at 9am tomorrow and will have any questions answered.

They will then continue deliberating.

Justice Panckhurst said they must return with a unanimous verdict, "12, nil".

The judge apologised for his lengthy summing up of the Crown and defence cases which has taken much of the day.

He told the jury that they must confirm verdicts on all counts and that will be confirmed by the jury foreman.

"No reasons are required and this reflects the requirement that the jury deliberations occur in private," Justice Panckhurst said.

"Either the Crown has proved that David committed the five murders or there is reasonable doubt and the five counts result in acquittal," he said.

The trial has heard evidence from 184 witnesses since it began in early March.

Justice Panckhurst spent the day summing up the Crown and defence cases and instructing the jury.

- with Newstalk ZB, NZPA