Jury members join Bain victory party

David Bain press conference

A Timeline Of David Bain's History

DEAN KOZANIC/The Press

A FREE MAN: David Bain leaves the High Court in Christchurch with Joe Karam after a jury found him not guilty of the murders in 1994 of five members of his family.

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Eyebrows have been raised by the actions of some of the jury members in David Bain's retrial, when they joined him at a celebratory party after he was acquitted.

Bain was found not guilty of killing his parents and three siblings at the High Court at Christchurch yesterday evening.

Earlier, as the jury of seven women and five men left the court, a crowd outside applauded them, TV3 News reported.

They then had a party of their own, celebrating the end of the three month trial.

Two of the jurors later arrived at Bain's victory party.

As soon as they arrived, Bain's lawyers left the room and shortly after that, the pair were asked to leave.

Although the two did nothing illegal, questions have been raised by their actions.

Christchurch barrister Nigel Hampton, who was not involved in the case, said contact between jurors and anyone involved in a trial - let alone the accused - was unusual, Radio New Zealand reported.

Hampton said if he had been at the party, he would have insisted that either the jurors or the defence team leave.

However, he said there was no specific rule preventing contact with jurors after a verdict was handed down.

Long-time supporter of Bain, Joe Karam, said the jurors' actions were understandable.

"When people are really moved emotionally, they do things they really wouldn't do otherwise. It was a very emotional night last night."

-NZPA