May 07, 2008

Christchurch venue for Bain retrial

Christchurch will be the venue for the retrial of David Bain on charges of murdering five members of his family in Dunedin in June 1994.

The retrial was ordered in an appeal to the Privy Council, when Bain had already served 13 years in prison.

The High Court in Christchurch heard legal argument in March about the switch of the trial venue from Dunedin.

At that time Justice Graeme Panckhurst suppressed the submissions and reserved his decision, which was released this afternoon.

He has directed that the trial will be held in Christchurch, but the suppression remains on all of the submissions and the judgment, except for the decision.

Bain was freed on bail a year ago after the Privy Council quashed his convictions for murdering his mother Margaret, father Robin, sisters Arawa, 19, and Laniet, 18, and his 14-year-old brother Stephen, at the family home.

At present, the retrial is due to start in August.