KEY POINTS:
The father of murdered Scots backpacker Karen Aim says he wants to meet the New Zealand teenager accused of killing his daughter.
Brian Aim, 51, told Glasgow's Daily Record newspaper: "I want to find out if he is proud of the fact that he killed Karen - or if he has any remorse at all."
Ms Aim, 26, of Holm, Orkney, was battered to death as she walked home in New Zealand's North Island town of Taupo in January.
Last week, a 14-year-old appeared in court charged with murdering her and aggravated robbery.
The teenager was remanded in custody and will return to Rotorua Youth Court next month.
Now Mr Aim, a self-employed builder and a committed Christian, has asked police to set up a meeting with the accused, the newspaper reported.
Mr Aim said: "If he's full of remorse, I feel that we could talk and possibly help each other.
"The law is that it is up to the boy whether he wants to speak to me or not. It isn't up to me. I'm not very happy with the law, as far as that goes."
When the teenager was charged with Karen's murder, Mr Aim said: "I should feel great anger but the truth is I can't help feeling sorry for him.
"I should feel rage but I feel a lot of upset for him and his family - what must they be going through?"
The murder of Ms Aim shocked Taupo, where she worked in a glass-blowing factory and craft shop on a working holiday.
- NZPA
