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Karam, Joe, 1951-

Trial by ambush : the prosecutions of David Bain / Joe Karam. - Auckland, N.Z. : HarperCollins, 2012. - 448 p., [8] p. of plates : col. ill., col. maps ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 440-448).

A fresh look at the trials of David Bain, presenting a fair and objective appraisal of the facts that led to his release from prison in 2009. At 7.09 a.m. on 20 June 1994, David Bain called emergency services and reported finding his entire family of five dead. A year later he was convicted of having murdered them in cold blood, with determination and cunning. He was sentenced to life in prison. However, after 12 years of public controversy, inquiries and appeals, on 10 May 2007 the Privy Council concluded that a substantial miscarriage of justice had occurred and accordingly quashed the convictions and ordered a retrial. For the first time the background to this historic decision is laid bare. This compelling new book explores why the miscarriage happened, just how substantial it actually was and why it took 12 years to right this dreadful wrong. When the evidence heard by both juries is on the table and assimilated in logical fashion as Joe Karam has done in this detailed narrative, the so-called controversy posed by the judge in his summing up - 'Who did it? David Bain? Robin Bain?' - will be put to rest once and for all.


ISBN: 9781869508340 (pbk.) : $44.99 9781869508340 (pbk.) 1869508343 (pbk.)

Subjects--Personal Names:
Bain, David Cullen, 1972- --Trials, litigation, etc.

Subjects--Topical Terms:
Trials (Murder)--New Zealand.
Mass murder investigation--New Zealand--Dunedin..
Evidence (Law)--New Zealand.
Judicial error--New Zealand.

Dewey Class. No.: 364.15234099392