Bain back for first time since 1995

Murder accused David Bain [right] with supporter Joe Karam in the Exchange, Dunedin, yesterday. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.

It is his first visit to the city since June 1995, when he was convicted of murdering his father, mother, two sisters and his brother.

During a brief encounter with the Otago Daily Times, at the Southern Cross Hotel last evening, Bain said nothing.

His supporter, Joe Karam also had little to say, except that Bain arrived in Dunedin on Tuesday and would be leaving today.

"Mr [Michael] Reed [QC], his counsel, has brought him down."

Bain was released from Christchurch Men's Prison, in May 2007, after the Privy Council in London quashed his convictions for the 1994 murders at the family's Every St home.

A retrial is due to begin in Christchurch on March 2.

One of the conditions of his bail, when he was released, was that he reside at the home of Mr Karam, at Te Kauwhata, in the Waikato, and not be allowed access to firearms.

He was also prohibited from travelling to the South Island, Hamilton or Wellington, where extended family members live.

In August 2007, his bail conditions were altered to allow him to live with a friend in West Auckland.

Mr Reed said last night "special bail" had been granted "very recently" by Justice Pankhurst in the High Court to allow Bain to travel to Dunedin for "trial preparation".

He would not discuss any conditions that applied to the visit.

Wearing a dark blazer, T-shirt and jeans, Bain strolled outside the hotel briefly before returning to the foyer to meet a long-time supporter.

After a few minutes, Bain and the man drove off.

Lead counsel for the Crown, Kieran Raftery, of Auckland, said the Crown did not oppose the change in bail conditions, provided the visit was for "a bone fide purpose and it was necessary for the trial preparation".

"I was just asked whether we would have any objection and I said, from the Crown's perspective, no."