Robin Bain 'no killer' - brother

ROBIN BAIN: David's father.

Related Links

Karam 'needs more time' for Bain book Bain jury ran up $30,000 expenses Bain to seek compensation and inheritance Bain begins new life abroad Bain's compensation bid difficult, say lawyers David Bain 'wants murder weapon back'

Relevant offers

Crime

Gisborne death investigated Urewera Four trial: Boys to be star witnesses 'Urewera four' armed revolutionary leaders - Crown House row sparked mansion killings, court hears Jail for Thailand child sex tours Murder accused wanted to flee Nelson Radical trial system shake-up proposed Man threatened to kill over internet use Woman critically injured in hit and run South Canterbury Finance five ready to fight

Robin Bain's brother has broken his silence to insist Robin was a "loyal, peaceful and thoughtful" man and "no killer".

In an article published in this week's Listener, Michael Bain, of Wellington, wrote of how the good names of David Bain's parents Robin and Margaret, two sisters Arawa and Laniet, and brother Stephen were vilified during David Bain's retrial, The Otago Daily Times reported.

He said the extended family found the retrial difficult to accept because none of those against whom the "hearsay" allegations were levelled were alive to rebut them.

Bain, 37, was cleared of murder the five members of his family in June after a retrial in the High Court in Christchurch.

But Bain campaigner Joe Karam said Michael Bain did not know his dead brother, Robin, well enough to say publicly he was not a killer.

Mr Karam said Michael Bain had seen his brother less than six times in more than 20 years before the killings.

"It is nice that he loves his brother but I think he is in denial, really.

"The evidence was very clear he (Robin) was in a seriously declining mental condition."

Mr Karam led the battle to take the case to the Privy Council in England which led to the retrial and not guilty verdicts for David Bain.

Bain had spent 13 years in prison after originally being convicted in 1995 of the killings in the family's Every Street home in Dunedin a year earlier.

Michael Bain said the family rejected the allegations levelled at members of the Dunedin family, particularly Robin Bain, as "totally out of character, speculative and disbelieved".

"We, his family, knew him to be a man of integrity and a good and faithful husband to Margaret and an excellent father to his children.

"Robin was no killer.

"He was a calm, loyal, peaceful and thoughtful man who deserved to grow old surrounded by the love of his family.

"I remain honoured to be his brother."

The family firmly believed Robin, along with the other family members who died, were innocent victims, he said.

Since the Every St killings, much "media hype" had focused on David Bain, including attempts to divert attention from him to Robin Bain.

Little attention had been paid to the others killed, whose futures were also "brutally and tragically snatched from them".

"For us, their loving brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and cousins, the end for each remains as unimaginable and horrifying today as when we first heard the news.

"David is able to enjoy his new-found freedom, but we haven't forgotten those who were never given a chance and now are unable to defend their reputations, or to enjoy any future at all."

- NZPA