David Bain does not have to repay legal aid

The Press

LEGAL BILLS: Mr Bain has received almost $2.7 million in legal aid since his original trial.

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David Bain is not required to pay back the almost $2.7 million in legal aid he has received since his original trial from any money he earns from interviews, the Legal Services Agency says.

Mr Bain, 37, was acquitted of murdering his parents and three siblings at their Dunedin home in 1994 after a retrial in the High Court at Christchurch last month.

This week New Idea published Mr Bain's first interview about his 13 years in prison.

The magazine has not revealed how much it paid for the exclusive article, but some media have reported that it could have been up to $50,000.

A Legal Services Agency spokeswoman told the Otago Daily Times Mr Bain would not have to repay his legal aid from any money he got from interviews or any other money he came into.

Under the Legal Services Act any changes to a person's financial situation once a matter was dealt with could not be taken into account retrospectively.

An assessment of a person's ability to make repayments was made at the time legal aid was granted.

- NZPA