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Adjusting to normal life after years in prison is a difficult process made easier by the support of friends, former prisoner Rex Haig has said.
Nine months ago, the Court of Appeal unanimously quashed Mr Haig's conviction for the murder of Mark Roderique in February 1994. The judgment did not go so far as clearing Mr Haig's name.
Similarities have been drawn between Mr Haig and David Bain, who was granted bail by the High Court on Tuesday after having his convictions quashed by the Privy Council in London last week.
Mr Haig, who spent 10 years in prison, fought for years to have his case heard in the Court of Appeal. He told the Otago Daily Times yesterday he could empathise with Bain, who spent 12 years in prison.
Mr Haig spent one month in Dunedin Prison with Bain and described him as a very different man to the David Bain who appeared on television on Tuesday.
"He was so young and quite bewildered with what was going on. It was a pretty horrendous thing."
The huge support Bain had would help him through the next few weeks, like Mr Haig's supporters had.
Mr Haig said he found it difficult to adjust to life and floundered in all the media attention.
"I found I just wanted to have a bit of peace and quiet."
