#07: The Bain Family Murders - A Father’s Confession or a Son’s Setup? - Nightwatch Files

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Before we begin. Do you have a theory about this
case or a story of your own, Share it with
me at night Watch Files at gmail dot com. Your
insights might be featured in a future episode, and be
sure to stick around until the end, where I'll read
a couple regarding the last episode. Maybe yours is one
of them. Let's unravel this together. Warning this episode contains

(00:25):
graphic descriptions of violence. Listener discretion is advised. The morning
of June twentieth, nineteen ninety four began with a frantic
call to the emergency number at seven o nine a m.
The voice on the other end strained and panicked. They're
all dead, They're all dead. It was David Bain, twenty

(00:45):
two years old, calling from his family home in Dunedin,
New Zealand. What the dispatcher couldn't yet know was that
this single sentence would ignite one of the most controversial
and chilling murder cases in the nation's history. Within minutes,
police officers arrived at sixty five Every Street in Anderson's Bay.
The house was described as old and semi derelict. As

(01:08):
the officers approached the scene, an ambulance was already waiting
outside the first body they encountered was that of Robin
Bain fifty eight, lying partly on his side in a
room opposite David's bedroom. A rifle with a silencer and
telescopic sight lay on the carpeted floor nearby. Moving through
the house, illuminated by the beams of their flashlights, the

(01:29):
officers found Lenniat Bain eighteen under a duvet on a bed.
Further inside, past shelves laden with preserves, lay Arwah Bain
nineteen on her back on the floor, her legs tucked
beneath her, as if she had knelt and fallen backward. Upstairs,
in the master bedroom, Margaret Bain fifty was discovered on

(01:49):
a water bed with a bullet wound below her left eyebrow. Finally,
the youngest, Stephen Bain, fourteen, was found in his room.
Throughout the house a sense of squalor and messed with
the family's belonging scattered in disarray. In the lounge, the
communal computer displayed a chilling message, sorry, you are the
only one who deserved to stay. Five members of the

(02:11):
Bain family were dead, all from gunshot wounds. The eldest son, David,
stood as the sole survivor. Robin Irving Bain and Margaret

(02:35):
Arwa Cullen married in nineteen sixty nine, bringing together two
individuals from Presbyterian backgrounds with musical talents. Robin, born in
Taranaki in nineteen thirty six, had trained as a teacher
and worked in Mauri schools, while Margaret born in Roxburgh
in nineteen forty four was a kindergarten teacher trainer in Dunedin,

(02:56):
where she first met Robin through a youth group. Despite
their seemingly compatible background, psychologist Richard Matches noted their significant
personality differences, even recalling Margaret's disturbing statement that she would
shoot Robin if she could. After marrying, they settled near
every street and welcomed their first son, David, who was

(03:16):
born prematurely in nineteen seventy two. In nineteen seventy four,
with Margaret pregnant with Arwa, the family moved to Papua
New Guinea for church work, having purchased sixty five every
street just before their departure. They were initially stationed in
Gauling on the Island of New Britain, where Robin served
as a deputy principal and Margaret immersed herself in local culture.

(03:40):
Arwa was born in nineteen seventy four, followed by laniat
in nineteen seventy six, and expats around them noted the
couple's disorganized and unsanitary lifestyle. Robin's hopes of becoming a
principle remained unfulfilled, and by nineteen seventy nine the Baines
had moved to Port Moresby, where Robin lectured at Papua
New guineansis Service College. Their domestic life continued to be chaotic,

(04:05):
with Stephen born in nineteen eighty. While Margaret was known
for being friendly and interested in natural healing, her poor
housework led to social isolation. Fellow teacher Robin Atkinson found
Margaret calm and Robin wise, but noted Margaret's frequent illness.
Despite their outward appearance of a loving unit, the family

(04:26):
was internally fragmented, with Margaret homeschooling the children with mixed results.
They would return to New Zealand every three years, traveling
in their commer van, during which time unusual incidents would occur,
such as David kicking open a bathroom door lanniatt had
locked in nineteen eighty one. Margaret's New Zealand family discovered

(04:47):
that nine year old David could barely read or write,
though Margaret firmly believed that life experiences were more important
than formal education. Upon returning to Papua New Guinea, the
children started school, with David experiencing bullying and eventually being
withdrawn from high school. The family remained active in expat
musical and dramatic circles, with Robin respected for his musical

(05:11):
abilities and community involvement, though Margaret sometimes resented that his
career seemed to overshadow her own. Psychologist DaVita Pokroy, who
counseled the family in nineteen eighty seven, found Margaret domineering
and unusually focused on her sex life with Robin. Margaret
also claimed abuse by her father, while Pokroy observed that

(05:33):
David was guarded but respectful of Robin, primarily wanting to
escape the chaotic home environment. Robin appeared emotionally subdued due
to Margaret's dominance. A civil engineer who knew them in
Gaulum noticed their continued chaotic life in Port Moresby, with
Robin mentioning that Margaret had gone to another world. Despite

(05:55):
their family stresses, they traveled widely. In nineteen eighty six,
they bought property in Bundenburg, Australia, planning a horticultural business,
but by nineteen eighty seven they were considering returning to
New Zealand due to rising crime and concerns about their
children's secondary schooling. Robin also explored potential work with the

(06:15):
un They saw returning to their Dunedin house as an
opportunity to build Robin's superannuation and restart their lives. Upon
returning to New Zealand, the Bain family first reconnected with
friends and relatives, traveling in their old commer van. Arriving
in Dunedin, they were shocked by the dilapidated state of

(06:36):
their every Street house, which had suffered fifteen years of
neglect and unkind tenants. Weeks of hard work were required
to make the house livable. The transition from their respected
expatriate life in Port Moresby, where Robin had been well
paid and respected, to their new reality in Dunedin was
extraordinarily challenging. David, Laniat and Stephen struggled at Scas School,

(07:00):
while Robin was forced to work as a relief teacher
with periods of unemployment, Margaret's frustration grew palpable. She felt
bitter and believed the Presbyterian Church owed them more support.
Her hopes for a comfortable return completely shattered. Feeling increasingly lonely,
she began demanding more attention from Robin. Shortly after their return,

(07:23):
she attempted to involve friends in a voodoo like sect,
and by early nineteen ninety she had moved into a
caravan in the garden, viewing it as a sacred space
for dream interpretation, and six months later Robin joined her
in the caravan while Margaret returned to the house. In
August nineteen ninety, he became the relieving principle of Tierrie

(07:43):
Beach Primary School, which was an hour's drive from every street.
He developed a routine of commuting returning for choir practice
with David, mostly using the Commer van, but occasionally riding
an old motorbike. Despite living in the care of he
continued to eat with the family, with Margaret providing meals.

(08:04):
For his time away at Tyree Beach, he would sleep
in the van on school grounds, using school facilities, and
complaints about the van led him to park at roadside
at night. This arrangement provided multiple benefits. It gave Robin
distance from marital tensions, allowed Margaret more control at home,
and helped them save money. Robin's salary went into a

(08:27):
joint account, with Margaret managing cash withdrawals and their joint
credit card. They were meticulous about clearing the credit card bill.
While Robin became integral to the Tiery Beach community, he
started applying for other jobs in nineteen ninety one, Margaret's
inner world became increasingly complex. She maintained an irregular diary

(08:48):
that mixed everyday events with occultish thoughts, describing Robin as
the son of Bellile and constantly feeling the presence of
bell whom she tried to clear from Robin. Paul Morris,
a religious studies head who read her diaries, noted her
intense focus on demons and felt the family environment was toxic.
Margaret appeared increasingly detached, seemingly seeing an alien force in

(09:11):
her household. Neighbours Wain and Billy Marsh had their own observations,
finding Robin gentle and Margaret flaky and opinionated. While Margaret
had been a skilled potter in Papua New Guinea, she
didn't pursue that craft in Dunedin, instead focusing on gardening, movies, music, bottling,
exploring her dreams, reading, knitting, and helping David with his

(09:33):
theater roles. When alone, she would often ignore Robin, her
growing resentment fueling a sense of grievance. Barbara Short, a
friend from New Britain, had observed Margaret's evolving spiritual interests
as early as nineteen eighty seven, noting her embrace of
reincarnation and channeling. Margaret would make extraordinary claims, suggesting connections

(09:55):
to Egyptian emperors and Winston Churchill. In nineteen ninety one,
when Short visited the Baines, she witnessed arguments and Margaret's
clear desire to end the marriage, a desire Robin consistently resisted.
Short felt particularly sorry for the children who suffered under
Margaret's relentless bossiness. Margaret began developing plans for a new house,

(10:19):
believing God had personally instructed her to create the design.
David became heavily involved in planning this proposed retreat, while
Robin grew increasingly worried about the expense and felt systematically
excluded from the planning process. Despite his marginalization, Robin remained
the family's sole financial provider. The family lived frugally, though

(10:41):
they possessed considerable assets. Margaret's belief system had evolved to
the point where she was convinced God would provide if
Robin were to leave. Margaret's sisters remained largely unaware of
the family's deep seated marital problems. Her sister Jan never
heard any negativity from Margaret about Robin. During a visit,

(11:02):
Margaret's sister Val and her husband noticed a telling dynamic.
The children would look to Margaret for approval before even
approaching Robin. Margaret had taken to describing Robin as essentially
a ghost within their home. Their friend, Robin Atkinson, visited
in nineteen ninety four and found the situation deeply concerning.
Margaret complained about Lanyette leaving home, while Robin looked remarkably gaunt.

(11:27):
Margaret candidly shared that things were not good and expressed
no desire to return to teaching. Housework had deteriorated to
an alarming state. Her nineteen ninety three diaries revealed and
deeply unhappy woman, consumed by anger towards her family. Her
attitude towards Robin had transformed dramatically over time, from attempting

(11:47):
to convert him to actively wanting him to leave, and
ultimately surrendering the matter to divine intervention. By mid nineteen
ninety three, Margaret was convinced Robin's departure was imminent and
was subsequently shocked when it didn't materialize. Meanwhile, the children
were experiencing their own complex journeys. David, who had started

(12:09):
at Bayfield High School in nineteen eighty nine, initially faced teasing,
but eventually found a circle of friends. He played Captain
von Trapp in the Sound of Music and went to
the school ball with Caroline White, though his intense behavior
ultimately scared her away. Mark Buckley, who had befriended David
out of sympathy, recalled disturbing conversations. David would discuss rape

(12:33):
fantasies involving a jogger, even planning to use his paper
round as an alibi. Another friend corroborated these unsettling discussions.
David's university experience proved challenging. After enrolling at the University
of Otago in nineteen ninety one, he met Barbara Chisolm.
Through rovers She found him introverted and perceived the family

(12:55):
as strange, believing David was controlled by Margaret and likening
him too a bomb waiting to explode. Bronwin Wood, who
encountered David while fruit picking, observed him as naive about
mainstream life and heavily influenced by religion and family. He
claimed guidance from an inner voice. After failing his first

(13:19):
university year, David transitioned to the unemployment benefit and continued
his paper round. His academic failure disappointed his family, who
had harbored hopes he would become a veterinarian. Despite this setback,
David did achieve some personal milestones. He completed an outward
Bound course in nineteen ninety two, which made his father proud.

(13:41):
David consistently sided with Margaret during her marital conflicts with Robin,
supporting her house plans, and becoming increasingly involved in performing arts.
His musical pursuits led him to opera Alive in nineteen
ninety two, where he took singing lessons and secured minor roles.
Pharmacist Patricia Napier was impressed by his talent and helpfulness.

(14:03):
Fellow singer Lindsay Robertson praised his voice as a beautiful, nice, rich,
deep tenor. However, others found him socially awkward, and he
became the target of practical jokes, earning nicknames like d
c B and Dumbo. A particularly memorable incident occurred while
David was rehearsing for Godspell in nineteen ninety three, when

(14:23):
he collapsed on stage muttering about black hands. A nurse
present believed he was fabricating the episode. Some opera live
members began avoiding him due to his social awkwardness. His
twenty first birthday party, organized by Robin at Bayfield High School,
was notably formal and childlike. In nineteen ninety David obtained

(14:44):
a firearms license and eventually purchased a twenty two rifle
with a telescopic sight in nineteen ninety three, also acquiring
a silencer. He primarily used the weapon for hunting rabbits
and possums. Arwa's trajectory contrasted sh darply with her brother's challenges.
She thrived at Bayfield High School, becoming head girl in

(15:05):
nineteen ninety two and maintaining a wide circle of friends.
David had observed that Arwa was stronger than him in
standing up to Robin. In conversations with her friend Charlene Sterling,
Arwa would candidly discuss her mother's tendency to hold grudges.
Kirsten coch Arwa's best friend until seventh form, found Robin
quiet and Margaret loud and bossy. The Bain children endured

(15:29):
extensive household chores within their unclean and untidy home, a
living environment that made other girls reluctant to visit. An
incident at Arwa's sixteenth birthday party illustrated the family's underlying tensions.
David became extremely agitated and stormed out after a pass
the parcel gift was contained in a tampon box. Professionally

(15:50):
and academically, Arwa continued to excel. She worked part time
and entered teacher's college in nineteen ninety three, distinguishing herself
particularly in drama and photography. Her success stood in marked
contrast to her sibling struggles. Lanyette's post Papua New Guinea
life proved most challenging. Teacher Joanne Dryden attempted to support her,

(16:14):
but Laniet ultimately left school and home towards the end
of nineteen ninety three, claiming her parents wouldn't sign welfare
benefit forms. Friends spoke of persistent problems between Lanyete and Margaret,
describing a pattern of rebellion against the family's restrictive religious
home culture. Lanyete confided in a friend about feeling a

(16:34):
metaphorical wall between herself and her mother. Her personal narratives
became increasingly complex and contradictory. To Paulhuson, a teacher, she
told conflicting stories about rape and a potential baby from
her time in Papua New Guinea. Leanne Dick, a close friend,
recalled Lanyete crying and alleging that Margaret and David were

(16:55):
involved in a cult and attempting to eliminate Robin. After
an emotional outburst, Lenniet temporarily stayed with another family before
definitively leaving school in November nineteen ninety three. She rented
a room in a Russell Street boarding house, with David
and Stephen helping her move. She began working as a
sex worker under the name Page, collaborating with another sex

(17:18):
worker named Zara. To Tzara, Lenniet made the shocking claim
that she had been raped by her father. She also
asserted she had given birth to a child, even showing
a photograph as evidence. In September nineteen ninety three, she
met Dean Robert Coddle and told him her father had
been sexually abusing her for years. By Christmas, Coddle had

(17:41):
provided her with a cell phone to support her work. Annette,
another boarding house resident who also became a sex worker
after Laniet's death, heard even more distressing details. Laniete confided
that she had been raped and had a baby in
Papua New Guinea when she was just ten years old,
suggesting a family friend was responsible. Annette witnessed Laniat's heavy

(18:02):
cannabis use and her despair over Dean Coddle, whom Laniat
claimed was blackmailing her. Another friend observed a significant decline
in Laniat during nineteen ninety three, noting her peculiar attitude
towards David. She would refer to him possessively as my
David and suggest he was jealous of her relationships. By
early nineteen ninety four, Laniet appeared agitated and fearful of

(18:26):
upsetting David. Stephen's academic journey differed from his siblings, starting
in the bottom stream at Bayfield High School in nineteen
ninety three, he was described by teachers as a live
wire and a challenging student. Paulhuson was impressed by Stephen's
spirited nature, but noted his quick temper and tendency to

(18:46):
stand up for himself. In May nineteen ninety three, Stephen
and friends were caught committing minor burglaries during a meeting
with Youth aid officer John Robinson. Margaret's dominant personality was evident,
while Stephen remained notably quiet. This interaction revealed the family's
complex interpersonal dynamics. While Stephen's academic performance was modest, Robin's

(19:09):
professional life presented a different narrative. At Tirie Beach School,
he was widely regarded as a well respected principal. Colleague
Darlene Thompson saw him as a loving and dedicated man,
with the children viewing him almost like a grandfather. Despite
never being diagnosed with depression, he struggled with personal care,

(19:30):
maintaining poor hygiene and irregular eating habits. He disliked paperwork,
but diligently completed it when necessary. Dorothy Doothy, the school
board chair, found Robin jovial and witty. Relief teacher Christine
Harricks considered him a real gentleman, emphasizing his caring and
considerate nature. However, the second half of nineteen ninety three

(19:52):
presented significant professional challenges, particularly with paperwork related to Tomorrow's
School's educational reforms. An Education Review Office ro visit in
September revealed critical deficiencies in his administrative work. Lesson plans
were lacking, and record keeping was substandard. Reviewer Joan Withers
found Robin impassive and unemotional, dramatically describing him as a

(20:16):
walking cadaver. The ro report was harshly critical, yet Robin
worked methodically to address the identified issues. Dorothy Doothy believed
the inspection came at an especially difficult time, with Robin
feeling sick and depressed. By early nineteen ninety four, most
of the administrative deficiencies had been corrected. At home, Robin

(20:38):
continued to bear familial tensions, stoically confiding in no one,
but often telling Thompson that Margaret wasn't well. A school
principal who knew the family well provided a nuanced assessment
of each family member. Stephen was described as tough, Lanyette
as lacking self esteem, Arwa as fantastic, and the home
environment as a mess. David was character as having a

(21:00):
different grasp on reality but cunning, Margaret as living in fairyland,
and Robin as good with children but struggling with administrative tasks.
By the start of nineteen ninety four, the Bain family
appeared to be teetering on the edge of a profound crisis.
The intricate web of psychological tensions, financial struggles, and deeply
dysfunctional family dynamics had reached a breaking point. Each family

(21:24):
member was wrestling with personal challenges David's social awkwardness and
failed academic pursuits, Langnette's traumatic experiences and sex work, Stephen's
disciplinary issues, Arwa's determined success, and Robin and Margaret's deteriorating marriage.
The accumulated stress, unresolved traumas, and toxic family environment suggested

(21:45):
an impending, potentially catastrophic resolution to years of mounting pressure.
The seemingly ordinary suburban home on every street concealed a
family narrative marked by complexity, pain, and unspoken conflicts that
would soon dramatically. Tom Dempsey alone in the Dunedin Saint

(22:07):
John Ambulance control room during his fourteen hour shift, received
the call from someone he later described as a young gentleman.
The caller wailed help, They're all dead and repeated the
horrifying statement. When questioned, he identified his location as sixty
five Every Street and pleaded for urgent assistance to his family. Dempsey,

(22:29):
surprised by the clarity with which the caller provided his name,
David Bain and telephone number despite his distress, alerted the
police and dispatched two ambulances, instructing his staff not to
enter the house. After Dempsey hung up, a signal indicated
the caller was still on the line with emergency operator
Francis Edwards. Dempsey requested the call be traced, so Edwards

(22:53):
remained on the line with David for approximately twenty five minutes.
David spoke in what seemed like riddles, reiterating his his
father was dead in the lounge and urging the ambulance
to hurry. When Edwards asked about his mother, David wailed
louder and stated she, along with his brother and sisters,
were also dead. He sounded panicky and repeatedly asked about

(23:15):
the ambulance's arrival, speaking very rapidly. When Edwards tried to
calm him, David replied with obscenities. Edwards eventually heard police
knocking on the door and asking David to open it.
The line then went quiet, and around seven thirty five
a m. Edwards heard someone say David was going into convulsions.

(23:35):
At their South Dunedin base, constables Jeff Wiley and Kim
Stevenson had just started their shift when they received a
call dispatching them to sixty five. Every street they were
given minimal information, only that an entire family was reportedly dead.
Skeptical due to previous overblown calls, they arrived to find
an ambulance waiting outside the address. Approaching in the dark,

(23:59):
they saw a head and shoulders in a front window,
the person appearing to be sitting on the floor. Concerned
the figure might start shooting, the constables turned off their flashlights,
hid behind a flax bush and watched for twenty seconds.
Wheely later remarked to Stephenson that they were fortunate it
wasn't David Gray, recalling the nineteen ninety Arimawana massacre. Sergeant

(24:23):
Murray's stap arrived outside the white iron gate of number
sixty five as the morning remained pitch black. He instructed
officers to stop traffic and pedestrians at both ends of
the steep street around seven twenty a m. Meanwhile, Stevenson
and while he slowly made their way up the path,
joined by Stap and Constable Less Andrew at the porch.

(24:44):
The porch was heavily shaded by trees and shrubs. Through
a window to the left of the front door, they
could see David still in the position they had observed earlier.
The light in his room illuminated the hallway. Stap stepped
back from the front door. His revolver covered the hallway.
A key was in the front door, but it would
not open. When asked to open the door, David still

(25:07):
hunched down, cried no, they are all dead. Making no move,
he pointed towards the hallway. When asked about his father's location,
Stap sent Andrew to retrieve more revolvers and ammunition. Wiley
looked through a bay window to the right and saw
a rifle on the floor next to an unmoving hand.
Andrew quickly returned with the additional firearms and ammunition. Stevenson,

(25:31):
unable to open the door with three solid kicks, prompted
stap to break a pane of glass in the door.
Using firewood from a nearby stack, he cleared the glass
and reached through to unlock the door from the inside.
As the officers entered, they pushed aside fallen spears and
curios in the hallway, not noticing the day's newspaper on
a cabinet next to a small flashlight. David's dimly lit bedroom,

(25:55):
the first on the left, had its door slightly ajar.
He was sitting on the floor the end of his
double bed, wailing hysterically, repeating, they are all dead, They
are all dead. Andrew remained with David, his revolver raised
to cover wily in stap. As they proceeded down the hallway,
Stevenson asked David how many people lived in the house.

(26:16):
David replied six. Stevenson entered the room opposite David's and
found the body of an older man, fifty eight year
old Robin Bain, lying partly on his side on the floor.
A rifle with a silencer and telescopic sight lay perpendicular
to the body. Willie shone his flashlight into the next
room on the left and found eighteen year old laniat

(26:37):
Bain under a duvet on a bed against the far wall.
To the right, another room had a curtain drawn across
the entrance. Stapp pushed it aside with his revolver and
saw the body of a woman, fifty year old Margaret Bain,
under her duvet in her water bed. A dog resembling
a keyshond was to the right of the bed, initially
snarling and barking, but quickly settling after Stap spoke to it.

(27:00):
David called out Casey, Casey. The officers noted a strong
stale smell and a chaotic, dirty environment in Margaret's room.
Step saw another doorway covered by a blanket. Between David's
and Lanniat's rooms was a staircase leading to the lower level.
Stap and Wily cautiously descended, turning right into the kitchen.

(27:22):
Dirty dishes were piled on a red bench, and a
large wood burning stove was visible in the flashlight. Stap
covered Wily as he moved right again down a narrow
passageway lined with shelves laden with bottled fruit and preserves.
He reached another doorway covered by two curtains. Shining his
flashlight into the room, he found the body of nineteen

(27:43):
year old Arwa Bane on her back on the floor,
her legs tucked under her as if she had knelt
and fallen backward when shot. As they walked through the
kitchen to the wash house and bathroom, they heard only
David wailing upstairs. Stap and Wily returned upstairs. While he
announcing they had found four bodies, Stevenson reminded them there

(28:04):
should be six, including David. Retracing their steps in Margaret
Bain's room, they found another bedroom behind what they initially
thought was a wardrobe. The room was extremely cluttered. On
the floor lay the blood covered body of a boy
with scrapes and grazes, fourteen year old Stephen Bain. While
he concluded a fight had occurred in the room. Meanwhile,

(28:27):
Andrew remained at David's doorway, noting a musty rotting smell.
After Stapp announced the discovery of the fifth body, Andrew
saw David start shaking and fall backward between the bed
and the wall. Andrew was struck by the unchanging nature
of David's eyes during this apparent fit. Pulling him out,
Andrew placed him in the recovery position. Two ambulance staff

(28:49):
were called in to check David. Ambulance officer Raymond Anderson
attended to David, who was still shaking. Andersen noted that
David's eyelids flickered when he brushed his eyes, a response
of a conscious person, leading Andersen to be puzzled by
the nature of the shaking, suspecting it might be a
purposeful act. David's heart rate was steady and other vital

(29:11):
signs were normal. Wilely guided Chief Ambulance Officer Craig Womwell
through the house to each body one well, noting Robin
felt warmer than the others. In David's room, Stap saw
a trigger lock on the floor. Detective Kevin Anderson arrived
at eight eleven a m. But did not enter the
house for another forty minutes. Inside he observed David lying

(29:34):
on his back, appearing to listen to police radio communications.
Anderson examined the front room where Robin lay, noting the
scene and a coffee table with a doily at a
strange angle. Robin was lying next to a bean bag
with a bullet wound in his left temple. He was
heavily clothed and wearing a green woolen hat off the

(29:54):
front room was a computer alcove separated by velvet curtains
splattered with blood and brain tissue. The rifle stock was
partially under one curtain with a live bullet nearby. The
rifle had a live round in the chamber and two
in its magazine. Another magazine with three bullets stood by
Robin's right hand. Two blood streaks ran down his forehead.

(30:16):
In the alcove, a lamp was on the floor with
a cushion and scattered papers and computer discs suggested a disturbance.
An empty shell casing was near the alcove curtains. Detective
Constable Terry van Turnhout took over watching David around eight
o five a m. Instructed to record anything he said
or did. Over the next hour. David tried to get up,

(30:38):
saying he had to go to university and complained of
a knifelike headache. Van Turnhout noticed a bruise on David's forehead.
David asked for his glasses, saying he couldn't see. Just
after nine a m. He said, black hands are coming
to get me, appearing disturbed and distressed. By ten a m.
David seemed more alert and followed police rate conversations. Ambulance

(31:02):
officer John Dick, attending to David from about seven fifty am,
also heard him whisper the black hands are coming, as
did ambulance officer Jan Scott. David was carried from the
house around ten twenty am, calmly stating he wanted to
go to university. Detective Sergeant Milton Weir, appointed officer in
charge of the scene, arrived around nine forty five am.

(31:25):
He briefly examined the property, noting a caravan with its
light and radio on and an old commer van. The
house was dilapidated and cluttered. After midday, Weir toured the
house with pathologist Alexander Dempster, who had been waiting outside.
Dempster pointed out a computer message, sorry, you are the
only one who deserved to stay. Detectives were assigned to

(31:48):
each homicide scene and body and preliminary searches began. Detective
Jennifer Fitzgerald examined Margaret, noting her wounds and clothing. Later
searches by Detective Michael Bracegirdle were hampered by clutter. Stephen
was found wearing underpants with a blood stained T shirt
wrapped around his neck. Indicating suffocation. Signs of a struggle

(32:10):
were evident, with blood everywhere and abrasions on his body.
He had two gunshot wounds, one through his hand and
another to his head. A blood stained glove right hand
inside out was found under his bed, along with another
blood stained glove left hand, not inside out, under a
green school jersey. Two pieces of skin were found on

(32:30):
the floor. Later, a lens from a pair of glasses
was found near an ice skate fitting a frame found
in David's room. Lanniet was found shot in her left
cheek and above her left ear, and also with a
head wound. Blood streaked her face and her hands were
smeared with blood. Shell casings and live cartridges were nearby.

(32:51):
Arwa was found downstairs, shot in the forehead, her legs
tucked under her. Two bullet holes were in the net
curtain of her doorway, indicating shots fired as the assailant approached.
A live shell was also found. David's room was relatively neaterer.
His bed had a pastel duvet in sheepskin, a walkman
with a queen tape lay on the bed. Posters adorned

(33:12):
the walls, and a trigger lock with its key was
on the floor near live shells and ammunition. His desk
contained various items, including a ceramic pot where he later
said the trigger lock key was kept. A piece of
cardboard with red circles and holes was also present. Downstairs,
the washing machine contained washed clothes, including a green jersey

(33:34):
with oper Otago sweatshirt in the basket, which had a
blood stain. Blood was also found on the washing powder
lid and in the wash basin. A green towel with
Robin's blood was hanging near by. Blood smears, likely from
the green jersey, were found on various door jambs and
light switches. Luminol testing revealed bloody sock footprints leading from

(33:55):
Margaret's room into the hallway and in and out of
Lanyette's room. No animal paw prints were found outside. Robin's
van contained a new chainsaw and David's sweatshirt and anorak
with gloves, handkerchief, keys, and a whistle. In Robin's caravan,
a spent shell and a live shell were found, along
with old shells, radios, shavers, and books, including Agatha. Christie's

(34:20):
Death comes as the End, a story about a father
initially suspected of killing his family as nineteen ninety three
drew to a close. Robin Bain sought respite from the
tensions at his duned And home by spending the Christmas
and New Year period in Otaki with his mother Marion.

(34:41):
During this time, he visited his sister Colleen and her
family in Hamilton, where his occasional sadness went unexplained, though
he still maintained his usual demeanor. He spent time with
his brothers Michael and Peter, helping to paint their mother's
house and enjoying swims at a nearby beach. Michael observed
Robin as his considerate self, showing enthusiasm for school projects,

(35:05):
including plans for a native bush area and fundraising for
a pool cover, as well as his ongoing efforts to
involve children with computers through a project called Fidoonet. As
the holiday concluded, Robin returned to Dunedin, carrying a bag
of his mother's preserves and making a poignant remark about
going back to a difficult situation. Educational psychologist Cyril Wilden,

(35:29):
who had known both Robin and Margaret for many years,
saw Robin a few times at the end of nineteen
ninety three and noted he appeared gaunt and unwell, experiencing
what Wildun suspected was reactive depression. Finding it difficult to
engage Robin in conversation about the issues he wished to discuss,
Wilden was particularly concerned about Robin's physical appearance and the

(35:52):
state of the school. When Wilden inquired if Robin was
seeking medical help, Robin gave a dismissive affirmative. Throughout the
initial months of nineteen ninety four, Robin continued to reside
in his van near Tierrie Beach School, but by the
end of April he moved into a house on the
school grounds that was previously occupied by a family who

(36:13):
left their furniture behind. Robin welcomed this move, appreciating the
opportunity to avoid another cold winter in his van. Shortly
after settling in, Laniet moved in with him, and within
weeks her eighteen year old friend Kyle Cunningham, also joined them.
Finding Robin to be kindly but somewhat distant, Laniet candidly

(36:35):
mentioned to Cunningham that she was engaging in sex work
for extra income. While Robin remained busy with school activities,
learning the banjo and planning various projects, his letters to
his mother during this period were generally positive, though he
appeared resigned to the lack of progress in his job applications.
Other principles in the area noticed a change in Robin,

(36:58):
observing him as unusually dispirited about his stalled career. Malan Brown,
the principal of Berwick's School, who considered Robin a mentor,
noted during a joint school camp in April nineteen ninety
four that Robin seemed preoccupied and unwell. During an educational
management course, he displayed uncharacteristic anger regarding the hiring practices

(37:19):
of boards of trustees. Kevin Mackenzie, the president of the
Tiree Principles Association, also found Robin becoming more negative as
the year progressed. Robin Davidson, the principle of Brighton's School,
who had taught with Robin decades earlier, noticed a decline
in his confidence and appearance, describing him as worn out

(37:39):
and unprofessional. At a principal's meeting in May, Robin expressed
his frustration at his lack of success in job hunting. Conversely,
Darlene Thompson, his colleague at Tiree Beach School, saw no
such change. Maintaining he remained happy and helpful, even initiating
a weekly family maths evening. In early June, William Christie,

(38:01):
a fellow choir member, spoke with Robin about a potential
quartet performance just two weeks before the murders, and found
him to have a positive view of the future. In
early June, Darren Palmer, a contractor for Otago Power, encountered
Robin at the school, where Robin requested a final meter reading,
stating he was moving back into town and appearing quite depressed. Meanwhile,

(38:25):
Lanniet's life was taking its own complicated path, living in
a boarding house on Russell Street and working as an escort.
She confided in a fellow resident about a pimp threatening
to expose her to her parents. She revealed her deep
seated fear of her father and made a disturbing disclosure
about inappropriate touching. Her financial situation improved in March nineteen

(38:48):
ninety four when she became eligible for the unemployment benefit,
which seemingly prompted her to reduce her sex work. Margaret
had earlier written her a letter seeking reconciliation and urging
her to return home. In mid May, Leniat began working
at the Rigoletto Coffee House and later at the Otago
Museum Cafe, where Arwa also worked. Robin made efforts to

(39:10):
create a home for her entirey, ensuring the house was
warm for her return from work. Arwa's life during this
period was marked by her academic and personal pursuits. In
her second year at Teacher's College, she was studying towards
a Bachelor of Education while also working part time in babysitting.
She rekindled her friendship with Kirsten Coke, confiding in her

(39:32):
during a visit to Every Street about things she couldn't
tell anyone, hinting at a family secret and expressing fear
of being overheard. Arwa also mentioned to Coke that David
controlled access to the front room and that he had
a gun, which made her feel scared. In March, she
participated in the Queen o the Heather competition as part

(39:54):
of Dunedin's Scottish Week. David seemed concerned about Arwa's potential
departure from he home, which would leave only Margaret, Stephen
and himself in the house they planned to replace their
dilapidated home. This potentially led to some controlling behavior on
his part. Lanniet's friend Leanne Dick recalled Arwa, insisting she

(40:15):
accompanied her home from the movies because she didn't want
to be alone in the car with David, whom Arwa
described as manipulative and controlling. David's life in nineteen ninety
four revolved around part time studies at the University of Otago,
taking papers in literature and music, continuing his singing lessons,
and participating in theatrical productions. In February, he resigned from

(40:38):
the Royal Dunedin Male Choir During a production of The Tempest.
He befriended Harriet, a fictitious name given by Martin van
Binen in his book Black Hands, an ecology student who
played violin in the orchestra. He candidly mentioned that his
part time enrollment was to maintain his unemployment benefit. Their

(40:59):
friendship whip grew as they rehearsed for the opera live
production of The Gondoliers. David shared his enthusiasm for the
plans for the new house, mentioning his own large bedroom
with an adjoining bathroom and implying his father had limited involvement.
Harriet's interactions with David provided additional insights into his family dynamics.

(41:23):
On May twenty seventh, she visited David's home after a function,
finding Margaret still awake watching TV. They shared tea in
his room, where David showed her a massage table and
a book with naked figures, mentioning that he and his
mother massaged each other. The next day, he asked Harriet
to the theater and for her phone number. On May

(41:43):
twenty ninth, they watched Schindler's List, during which David cried,
telling her he hadn't cried so much in years. Around
the same time, John Muatt, a fellow music student, witnessed
David behaving erratically during a choral workshop. In early June,
David and Harriet attended a ball at Larnac Castle. Afterwards,
David expressed a desire for closeness, but wanted to take

(42:05):
things slowly. Following an argument with his parents, David visited Harriet,
telling her his mother no longer loved his father and
wanted him out of the house, also blaming his father
for Lanyette's departure. Margaret's mental state appeared largely unchanged in

(42:26):
nineteen ninety four, though her sisters perceived an improvement in
her relationship with Robin. The housework continued to decline, and
with David less present, the house became more chaotic. In
late May or early June, Margaret told Cyril Wylden she
had abandoned her belief in God and churches, claiming to
have found a better way, which she demonstrated by using

(42:49):
her pendulum. Progress on the new house seemed to be
gaining momentum, with Margaret finishing her plans and preparing to
apply for a demolition permit. However, the council insisted on
repairs to the spouting following complaints from neighbors. Margaret attempted
to negotiate with the council, citing the imminent new build.

(43:10):
Stephen appeared to be doing better playing trumpet in the
school jazz orchestra. Margaret contacted John Robinson, the youth aid
officer who had previously dealt with Stephen, requesting a follow up.
Lanie had also seemed on the verge of addressing her problems. Annette,
another pseudonym on the book Black Hands, was her water

(43:30):
polo teammate, who met her shortly before the shootings and
learned that Lanyette had given up sex work and planned
to reveal her past and the alleged incestuous relationship with
her father to her parents. That weekend, Lanyete seemed both
upset and excited, also mentioning that David wanted a family meeting.

(43:52):
The days leading up to the shootings were marked by
a series of seemingly ordinary yet increasingly tense interactions. On Friday,
June seventeenth, Dean Coddle phoned the Baine home, believing Laniat
had returned to every street. Later that day, he saw
Laniet in town, where she told him she was making
a fresh start and her parents had been questioning her.

(44:13):
She did not specifically mention incest. On the same Friday,
Lanniet interviewed for a telemarketing job and was offered the position,
appearing happy about it. David's focus in the lead up
to the shooting seemed primarily centered on his music and
his relationship with Harriet. On June eleventh, they attended a
concert during which Harriet noticed David looking distant. Six days

(44:36):
before the shootings, David met with Sarah, also a pseudonym
on Black Hands, a friend of Harriet's, engaging in a
deeply personal conversation about trust, relationships and his past. He
spoke of feeling he had lost everything he loved and
his tendency to hurt those he loved. David revealed his
inclination to keep his private self hidden and his feeling

(44:58):
of having no real friends, occasionally expressing anger towards his father.
Their discussion explored the family's dynamics and the plans for
the new house as a potential retreat. David shared his
concerns that if he moved out, Arwa would leave too,
and his mother would sell the property, preventing the new
house being built and Lanyette's return. He disclosed a personal

(45:21):
secret about laniet seeing black aurs and his own experiences
of deja vous or mental absences. He mentioned that Laniette
had left home because she defended Robin. Just before leaving,
David told Sarah he had a feeling something horrible was
going to happen, possibly involving Harriet. Sarah advised him to
seek counseling. Five days before the shootings, David got a

(45:43):
tattoo with artist Helen Bennett, who found him easy to
get along with. The inking process took about two and
a half hours. The Thursday night before the killings, David
spoke with Wallace Chapman, who directed the tempest, finding him
very upbeat. The following after afternoon, David returned home to
find his parents and siblings in the living room, feeling

(46:05):
the usual tension. That evening, he and Harriet went to
a Thai restaurant, where he spoke about not feeling connected
to his father and recounted a memory from Papua New
Guinea involving carrying bags. He felt that during a family outing,
his sole purpose was holding his mother's and Stephen's things. Later,
David and two other singers went to Chapman's flat to

(46:26):
record a party CD. Arwa spent the Friday before her
death studying with friends for an exam. One of them,
Greer Taylor, knew David and found him quirky. Taylor's boyfriend
had warned her about David's past rape fantasy. After their
study session, David picked up Arwa, appearing unfriendly and hustling

(46:49):
her away. Later that evening, Arwa met her friend Tim
Smith for dinner, talking about problems at home, Although not
mentioning David or Lania, she expressed her desire to move out,
siding with her mother due to her father's absence and
her mother's anger. They discussed flatting, and as they parted,
David seemed to be nearby. Arwa had plans to attend

(47:11):
a school ball. On Saturday night. About a week before
the murders, Margaret visited a friend behaving unusually by drinking
black coffee and eating chocolate cake, which were both bad
for her migraines. She mentioned picking up Stephen and checking
on David, who was hallucinating. Later, Margaret called her friend
to express appreciation. On the Friday before the murders, Jeffrey Swift,

(47:36):
a family acquaintance from the opera company, dropped off a
video David had just left for university, borrowing money from
Margaret for the video. Swift chatted with Margaret, who mentioned
David had taken over household responsibilities while Robin was at
Tieri Mouth. However, shortly before the shootings, Margaret told her

(47:56):
sister that David was taking the parental role too far.
Robin spent Friday at school and spoke with educational psychologist
Ingrid Dunky. He also discussed firearms for pest control with
his border Kyle Cunningham. Before leaving for home on Friday,
Robin told Cunningham he would see him on Monday. On Saturday,

(48:16):
June eighteenth, Robin worked on the guttering at every street.
Neighbour Wayne Marsh observed Robin, David and Stephen, apparently working
together with little communication. Sunday was family outing day, with
David and Stephen participating in Dunedin's annual midwinter swim while
Robin drove them and looked after their gear. Harriet and

(48:37):
Sarah arrived late. Robin spent the afternoon at a computer
genealogy group meeting. After the swim, Sarah dropped David at
rehearsals for Odipus Rex Classics. Lecturer Harry Love found David relaxed.
After rehearsal, David met Harriet at the Museum cafe, where
they chatted with Lyniate and Arwa, who were working. Several

(48:58):
people recalled seeing lyniatet at the Playhouse theater. Lanaiette told
Joanne Dryden she was scared about a family meeting David
had called for that night, saying David had threatened to
make her go. Marcel nater Turner also noticed Laniett's agitation
and her fear of David. After their cafe shift, David
picked up Laniette and Arwa. According to David, they went

(49:21):
to Laniett's flat and then to the supermarket. When they
returned home, Robin and Margaret were watching television. Lanyete and
David went to get takeaway food while Arwa went babysitting.
According to David, they had their meal and watched a
nature video Harriet had lent him. At eight thirty p m,
they switched to Prime Suspect. David said he went to

(49:42):
bed before nine p m. Later he heard a car leave.
Margaret or Robin went to an ATM to transfer money
to their visa account and withdraw cash around eleven thirty
p m. The cash was found on Margaret's dresser the
next morning. On the morning of the shootings, at approximately

(50:05):
ten twenty a m. David Bain was carried from his
house on a cradle and placed in a waiting ambulance.
Accompanying him were Constable Terry Van Turnhout and Detective Sergeant
Greg Dunn, who was designated as the officer in charge
of witnesses and David's primary police contact. The ambulance transported
David to the Dunedin Central Police Station, where he reported

(50:28):
a dry throat and a headache. Detective Sergeant Dunn arranged
for a hot drink and informed David that a doctor
was en route. Dunn inquired if David felt capable of
answering some questions about the events that had transpired. David
nodded in response, indicating he had lost his voice. He
provided done with details regarding family contacts, and answered initial

(50:52):
questions about the previous night, stating that everyone had been present,
including his sister Leniat, who usually resided at the Square
Coolhouse in terry Mouth, but had been home due to
working at the cafe. David then asked Donn to tell
him what had happened. Dunn informed him that his mother
and father were deceased and promised to provide further information

(51:13):
as it became available. Police doctor Tom Pride arrived around
eleven a m. And David consented to providing blood and
body samples, as well as undergoing an examination. Before David's
clothes and socks were taken for further examination, a police
officer brought him a fresh set of clothing obtained from
a Red Cross opportunity shop. Detective Sergeant Dunn commenced taking

(51:37):
David's formal statement around midday manually noting down the questions
and answers. Their conversation touched upon the layout of the house,
and Dunn inquired if David's parents had separated. David responded
that they had, explaining that his mother no longer desired
the marriage, while his father was unwilling to give up
the family, resulting in his father's sad sleeping in the caravan.

(52:03):
When asked about his parents relationship, David described it as unpleasant,
deteriorating rapidly about a year after their return, and characterized
by tension and constant fault finding, with his mother feeling
she had given everything without reciprocation. David stated that the
days leading up to the shootings had been ordinary. When

(52:23):
questioned about the previous night, he mentioned a persistent dispute
with his father over a chainsaw, which he needed for
garden work, asserting that his father had tried to undermine him,
reflecting their usual dynamic. David claimed he had gone to
bed around nine p m. At the same time as Stephen,
while his parents and Lanniat were still awake watching television

(52:47):
and Arwa was out babysitting. Recounting the morning's events, David
described waking around five thirty a m. Dozing until approximately
five forty a m. Then getting dressed in his running
clothes and new laser running shoes. He mentioned specific clothing
items including socks, bike pants, black rugby shorts, and a
T shirt, also noting a red T shirt he had

(53:08):
put in the wash and a walkman he carried. He
stated he left the house precisely at five forty five
a m. Taking the family dog, Casey, and proceeded with
his paper run. The interview covered the duration and root
of his run, with David recalling specific times with remarkable precision,
explaining that he had checked his watch to gage the

(53:30):
run's length, estimating it at about forty five minutes, and
noting that he had mostly run walking only on one
particular street. He mentioned being passed by a customer in
a red station wagon and that an elderly woman, Elizabeth Mitchell,
would have seen and heard him due to her dog
barking when he delivered her paper. Describing his return home,

(53:51):
David said he removed his shoes in his room and
placed his walkman on the bed without turning on the light.
He then went downstairs to the bathroom and put some
colored clothing and jerseys in the washing machine. Following this,
he washed his hands to remove printer's ink. Upon returning
to his room, he turned on the light and noticed

(54:13):
his cupboard open with cartridges and his twenty two rifle
on the floor. He stated the rifle was his and
usually kept locked in the cupboard. David explained that one
key for the trigger lock was typically on a necklace
he wore, which he hadn't that day, and the other
was in a pottery jar on his desk. He recognized
the key in the jar had been used because his

(54:35):
necklace wasn't with the lock. Seeing the ammunition, David said
he felt unsure, confused, and scared, prompting him to investigate.
He recounted going to his mother's room, pulling back the
curtain and calling her name. He described her as appearing
to have open eyes and a white complexion, then noticing
blood all over her head and face. He then ran out,

(54:58):
calling for his father and went to the lounge, finding
him gray white with blood on his temple. It was
then that he called the police. David claimed he did
not see the rifle beside his father, nor did he
enter any other rooms or attempt to wake anyone else.
When asked why he looked for his father in the lounge,
David said he didn't know, but felt no hesitation in

(55:20):
going there. He provided details about the family's usual morning routines,
including his father's typical wake up time on Mondays. Detective
Sergeant Dunn further inquired about family relationships, specifically Arwa's relationship
with their father, which David described as stronger than his own,

(55:41):
with Arwa being firmer and less prone to guilt. He
mentioned a recent argument he had with his father the
previous night and another argument between his mother and father
on Saturday. Regarding guttering, David described his mother's demeanor the
previous night as her usual quietness and ignoring of his father,
although she would greet him if spoken to. He believed

(56:04):
Laniat had the best relationship with their father among the children,
as he would give her money, rides, and take her places.
Acknowledging Laniet knew about their parents separation but didn't want it,
He noted his father had been living in the caravan
for about a year and a half since his mother
had asked him to leave the house, and while Stephen

(56:25):
knew there was tension, he wouldn't know the full extent
of their mother's feelings. David stated his mother wanted Robin
completely out of their lives and that Robin made Stephen
feel oppressed. He attributed his parents estrangement to his father
treating his mother as solely a housewife after taking her
to Papua New Guinea as missionaries, preventing her from pursuing

(56:48):
her degree and musical talents. When asked about the lump
on his head, they couldn't recall how he got it,
except possibly when he blacked out, and he also didn't
know how he had skinned his knee. After reading and
making corrections to the notes, David signed each page, adding
that the statement was true and correct and he had

(57:09):
nothing further to add. Around four forty pm, police photographed
David's injuries. By approximately five pm, the police were finished
with David, and his mother's sister, Jan and her husband Bob,
were waiting to take him to their home in Saint Clair.
Jan was deeply upset, but tried to remain strong for David,

(57:30):
who broke down and clung to her. She assured him
they would provide a home care and love for him.
At their home. David ate soup and muffins. Watched television
and had a spa bath. They were soon visited by
Marjorie McCormick from Victim's Support, who found David withdrawn and
expressionless cuddling a cushion. Jan Clark was emotional, holding and

(57:52):
comforting David, who mostly sat quietly, responding briefly if asked something,
though Jan did see occasional tears. David was given Heidi's
room upstairs. Jan was surprised by his lack of overt
emotion and the absence of questions like how could this
happen or why did it happen? Bob Clark felt David
relaxed quickly. Once at their home. The next morning, Jan

(58:15):
found David rubbing his arm and noticed his new tattoo,
which he said he got when his dog Sasha died,
explaining it was for all the pets he had lost.
He became tense and spoke haltingly about the death of
loved ones, vowing never to love again. He also commented
on Stephen's potential strength. Later that morning, David discussed funeral arrangements,

(58:37):
with Jan, having clear ideas for a family service, with
cremation for his parents and burial for his siblings. Involving
the Quakers in specific music for each The following Monday,
Robin's colleague Darlene Thompson received news of his death. Around
ten a m. The school closed and parents gathered, expressing
disbelief and shock. Other principles and Stone and Kevin mc

(59:01):
kenzie went to help at the school. Noticing disarray and
lack of planning, Psychologist Cyril Wilden provided grief counseling. Wildun
found a disturbing school newsletter containing violent stories written by pupils,
which shocked mac kenzie. Thompson was less concerned, attributing it
to the children's backgrounds. On Tuesday, Marjorie mc cormick sat

(59:23):
with David, who mentioned needing health foods and getting his dog.
He remained calm and unemotional, describing his family as almost
perfect and feeling no attachment to his father. When asked
what was important, he replied, I need to know who
did it. Mc cormick was surprised by his detailed and
unemotional funeral plans, all starting with I want this, I

(59:45):
want that, according to the book Black Hands. She said
he was very clear and detailed, and it went on
and on till I asked him when did you have
time to think about all this? He said he had
thought about the funeral during the night, as he hadn't slept.
It all seemed very cold and clinical. He specified tributes
and music, including Foray's Requiem for Margaret, Queen's Who Wants

(01:00:09):
to Live Forever for Lanniat, and detailed clothing for each funeral.
Director Derrick Hope also visited David, finding him zombie like
and emotionless. Margaret's sister Valerie Boyd and her husband John
arrived at the Clark house on Tuesday, finding David lying
on the floor and showing little emotion. Greg Dunn arrived

(01:00:30):
later to take another statement, focusing on household income and
again questioning why David hadn't opened the door for the police,
to which David replied his fear was too great. The
subject of the trigger lock key arose again, and David
reiterated his earlier account. He said he had last used
the rifle months prior. Dunn revisited David's movements after his

(01:00:54):
paper round, and David changed his account of washing his hands,
now saying it was before handling the laundry. He recounted
finding his mother, noting her pallor and the blood, and
his subsequent search for his father in the lounge, He
denied seeing or touching the rifle and not entering his
siblings rooms. Dunn pressed him on the twenty five minute

(01:01:14):
delay in calling the ambulance, which David couldn't explain, mentioning
recent spacing out episodes. Dunn concluded by questioning why David
had initially said the whole family was dead. David claimed
he didn't know, and then signed his statement after making changes. Later,
David enjoyed attention from a friend of Jan's daughter and

(01:01:36):
told jokes about his girlfriend. In the evening, he insisted
on seeing the day's newspaper with the headline about the
family's slaying, becoming distressed after reading it. Bob Clark tried
to comfort him, recounting what he had seen at the morgue.
David then entered a trance like state, repeatedly saying black hands.

(01:01:56):
Jan and Val tried to comfort him, and David said
they lied to me. They weren't asleep, they knew what happened,
before again saying black hands and mentioning death and dying
all around referencing Schindler's List. When Jan asked if he
had seen them dying. He opened his eyes and said no,
he had only seen his mother and father, who were

(01:02:16):
already dead. Jan suggested he talked to Greg Dunn. Dunn
arrived later that evening and spoke with David, who was
crying and talking about black hands coming to get them
and his regret at not running home faster. They discussed
three possibilities for the murders, an unconnected person, David or
his father, to which David replied, if it was Dad,

(01:02:40):
I would be very disappointed. His friend Harriet visited, finding
him upset because he hadn't been told two of his
siblings were out of bed and mentioning a period of
memory loss and his fear of being accused. He also
expressed sadness about Stephen's fight and mentioned injuries he couldn't
recall getting. He repeated the phrase everything I have ever

(01:03:01):
loved I have lost. On Wednesday morning, David woke Val
and John Boyd, mentioning his father and wishing he was dead.
He used the word if when talking about his father,
citing the black hands IDEA. Funeral arrangements were again discussed,
with David insistent on cremation for his parents and burial

(01:03:21):
for his siblings together, wanting to join Lanyette in her
grave and suggesting singing solo. Presbyterian minister Ian Cairns spoke
with David about his beliefs on life after death, which
Jan found incredibly articulate. Marjorie McCormick found the household tense
with David having taken over all funeral arrangements. Together, they

(01:03:43):
compiled a detailed list with David's specifying clothing for each
family member, including his own red patchwork. Jersey, Harriet and
Sarah visited that evening, and during a walk, David had
a dramatic outburst of screaming, followed by Sarah asking if
the shootings were the horrible thing he had foreseen. He
confirmed it was, and spoke about being angry with his

(01:04:05):
father if he was responsible, worried about the police believing
his innocence. Back at the Clarks, val Boyd observed David
being comforted by Sarah, while Harriet was upset he wouldn't
talk to her. David discussed his deja vous experiences and
his inability to recall twenty minutes. He also mentioned scratches
on his chest he couldn't remember getting. Later that night

(01:04:29):
David chatted with Val for five hours, expressing hatred for
his father, distress about Stephen and Laniat, and his father's
perceived dominance and failure to provide for their future. As
the funeral approached, Sarah spoke to David again and he
mentioned selling the property and asking for repayment of loans.

(01:04:52):
David's friend Rupert brought over c D's for the funeral,
and Jan noted the amount of laughter. Jan and Val
found the song for Laniat disturbing. David showed no emotion
when discussing the funeral and wanted no one to wear black.
He initially rejected walking with Margaret's frail mother, but was
eventually persuaded. He had plans for Arwa's birthday the day

(01:05:14):
after the funeral, wanting to have her friends over. Jan
felt David showed an incredible calmness and detachment, leading to
increasing anxiety about his involvement. Val Boyd also noted David's
ability to shut off emotionally in his control over the situation.
Harriet visited again and Val heard laughter upstairs. Jan spoke

(01:05:35):
to David about his lack of consideration and felt manipulated.
His aunts noticed his healthy appetite. McCormick also found his
reaction surprising, noting no signs of grief. The trajectory of
the investigation began to shift as forensic evidence started to emerge.
Bruises and an abrasion were noted on David's body during
a medical examination on the morning of the murders, injuries

(01:05:58):
he could not readily explain lane. These injuries took on
greater significance in light of the violent struggle indicated in
Stephen's room, suggesting the killer might have sustained injuries. Furthermore,
traces of Stephen's blood were found on David's clothing, including
his T shirt, shorts, and socks, raising questions about how

(01:06:19):
this occurred if David's initial account of his movements was accurate.
A crucial piece of evidence was the discovery of a
lens from a pair of glasses in Stephen's room. This
lens was found to fit a damaged frame of Margaret
Baines's spectacles located on a chair in David's bedroom. David
admitted to sometimes wearing his mother's glasses, especially after his

(01:06:40):
own pair had been broken shortly before the murders. The
presence of the lens in the room where a violent
struggle had taken place strongly suggested David was wearing the
glasses at the time and lost the lens during the fight.
Perhaps the most compelling physical link to David was the
discovery of his finger prints in blood on the stock

(01:07:00):
of the twenty two rifle believed to be the murder weapon.
While David acknowledged owning the rifle, he denied touching it
after returning from his paper run. The clarity and definition
of the prince, according to finger print experts, suggested they
were of recent origin, and the fact they were seemingly
made with blood that covered the rest of the rifle

(01:07:21):
raised serious questions. Investigators struggled to reconcile how David's unsmeared
finger prints could be present on a rifle otherwise covered
in blood if he had only handled it during a
previous rabbit or possum shooting. Coupled with this physical evidence
was the lack of any direct forensic evidence unequivocally linking

(01:07:42):
Robin Baine to the actual shootings. While there were small
smears of blood on his hands, these could be attributed
to spatter from his own head wound. No finger prints
belonging to Robin were found on the rifle. The absence
of a clear motive for Robin to murder his entire
family save for David, also fueled the growing suspicion towards

(01:08:03):
the surviving sun. As investigators pieced together these elements, a
picture began to form suggesting David's involvement in the killings
was more than that of a grieving survivor. Witness statements
regarding tensions within the family and David's sometimes controlling behavior
further contributed to this conclusion. By Friday twenty fourth of

(01:08:26):
June nineteen ninety four, just four days after the murders,
investigators believed they had gathered sufficient evidence to arrest David
cullen Baine and charge him with the murders of his
parents and three siblings. David cullen Bain was formally charged
with the murders at one forty six p m. On Friday,

(01:08:48):
June twenty fourth, nineteen ninety four. Responding no, I'm not guilty,
he refused further medical examination. Police informed jan Clark of
the arrest as she was leaving for a pre funeral meeting.
The family was traumatized. David was remanded in custody and
did not attend the funeral. The funeral proceeded largely according

(01:09:09):
to David's plans, with specific music for each family member.
The Tiree Beach School held its own memorial. The Bain
family members were buried together in one grave. On David's
first day in prison, Corrections officer Grahame Stanley, whose son
Shane was David's friend, became emotional and was sent home.
He cautioned David, who seemed to adapt easily to prison life.

(01:09:31):
Stanley stopped David from faking fits. David's uncles visited him
to discuss the house, and Michael Bain asked if he
had done it, to which David replied he had told
his side to the police and would stick to that.
The jury trial of David Bain commenced in the imposing
Edwardian Court House in Dunedin on the eighth of May

(01:09:54):
nineteen ninety five. A panel of seven men and five
women were sworn in, marking the beginning of a legal
battle that captivated the nation. The Crown Prosecutor, Bill Wright,
delivered his opening address until just after three in the afternoon,
laying out the case against the accused. Throughout this initial stage,

(01:10:15):
David Bain remained a seemingly quiet figure, often looking down
at the desk in front of him. Despite the gravity
of the charges, His defense team conveyed an air of
optimism regarding his prospects. Bain appeared in court wearing gold
rimmed glasses, jeans, and a pattern jersey that had been
provided by the wife of his lawyer, Michael Guest. Observers

(01:10:37):
noted a change in his physical appearance as he had
gained weight attributed to prison food treats from supporters and
a lack of his previous running routine. Author James McNish,
present in the court room, remarked on Bain's long hands,
which were seldom at rest. Over the subsequent two weeks,
approximately eighty witnesses presented evidence on behalf of the crown.

(01:11:01):
The prosecution's case was meticulously structured, commencing with the testimonies
of the police and ambulance officers who were first on
the scene at every street, and culminating with the detailed
accounts of police interviews conducted with David Bain. In his
opening statement, Prosecutor Bill Wright outlined what he termed the
three fundamental pillars of the crown's case against David Bain.

(01:11:26):
The first of these pillars was the body of evidence
that directly connected David Bain to the fatal shootings. The
second pillar focused on the relative absence of evidence that
implicated his father, Robin Bain, in the crimes. Finally, the
third element of the crown's argument was the evidence suggesting
that Robin Bain had not died by suicide. Wright further

(01:11:49):
presented the crown's theory regarding the sequence of events. According
to this reconstruction, David Bain had shot his mother and
three siblings in the early hours of the morning, between
four and five o'clock, before he embarked on his regular
newspaper delivery route. Upon his return to the house, the
Crown contended David had concealed himself in the computer alcove,

(01:12:13):
a small area adjacent to the lounge that was separated
by green curtains. The prosecution theorized that when Robin Bain
entered the lounge to engage in his customary morning prayers
or meditation, David had then extended the rifle through a
small opening in the curtains and fatally shot his father.
Wright acknowledged that the Crown could not definitively state the

(01:12:35):
precise unfolding of events, but asserted that this proposed scenario was,
in their view, more probable than any other. The twenty
fourth of May saw the appearance of the first witness
for the defense, and notably, only one of just three
such witnesses to be called. This witness was David Bain himself,
who delivered his testimony in a fluent, polite, detached manner,

(01:12:59):
his voice described as a base. Some observers noted his
demeanor as somewhat flat and stiff. However, the intense public
and media interest in his account was evident by the
fact that the upstairs public gallery of the courtroom was
opened and every available seat was occupied. A line of
individuals formed outside the courtroom hoping for an opportunity to

(01:13:21):
witness his testimony. Michael Guest, leading the defense, guided David
Bain through his evidence, beginning with questions about his relationships
with each member of his family. Bain described his relationship
with his mother as wonderful, stating that they had gotten
on excellently since their time in Papua New Guinea, where

(01:13:42):
she had homeschooled him and later supported his musical endeavors.
He acknowledged some of her beliefs as a bit odd
from an outside perspective, but maintained that this did not
affect their bond. Regarding his father, Bain spoke of a
great relationship, the old father son relationship that we had,

(01:14:03):
recounting fishing and tramping trips and learning to shoot from
his father. He addressed comments attributed to him after the
murders about hating his father, stating that he could not
clearly recall making such statements, but that if he had,
they would have been intended to express anger if his
father had been responsible for the deaths. He denied ever

(01:14:24):
telling his father to leave the family home, stating that
his mother had never requested him to do so. Bain
characterized his father as a very stoic person who kept
his feelings to himself, making it rare for him to
know his father's true emotions. He described a good friendship
with his younger brother, Stephen, who he said looked up

(01:14:46):
to him, and recounted taking him tramping and enjoying music
and remote controlled car races together in the weeks leading
up to the tragedy. Bain also described his relationship with
Lanniat as loving and caring, share similar interests in bikes.
He portrayed his relationship with Arwa as growing into a
close friendship, spending time together at university, sharing lunch, and

(01:15:10):
discussing friendships on a regular basis. The defense then moved
to address some of the hard evidence presented by the Crown.
Regarding the glasses found on a chair in his bedroom,
Bain stated that they were his mother's, that they would
help his vision but were astrain to wear, and that
he had not warn them for at least a year,

(01:15:30):
having no idea how they came to be in his room.
Asked about the green jersey he had initially identified as Arwa's,
Bain clarified that it actually belonged to his father, although
Arwa would sometimes wear it around the house. He stated
that his father had worn the jersey on the Saturday
afternoon before the shootings and a track suit on Sunday.

(01:15:53):
Bain then offered startling new information about the night before
the murders, stating that he could recall waking up during
the evening and hearing raised voices emanating from the living room.
He emphasized that his room was usually sound proof to
the television, and that he could not discern the content
of the voices, only that they were raised. He also

(01:16:15):
provided a much fuller account of his actions upon returning
from his paper round. He now recalled going into Stephen's room,
seeing him covered in blood, touching his shoulder to try
and wake him, and then leaving the room. He claimed
to remember being in Lynnette's room, hearing her gurgling, seeing blood,
and going right up beside the bed before leaving. His

(01:16:39):
recollection continued with being downstairs in Arwa's room, seeing her
on the floor and appearing dead, and then going into
the lounge and seeing his father, noting a wound on
his head, but not seeing the rifle. He unequivocally stated
that he had not killed any of his family members.
Bain explained that he had provided a different version to

(01:17:00):
the detectives initially because he had not yet remembered these events.
He attributed the return of these memories, which helped to
account for the twenty to twenty five minute gap before
his nine one one call and his initial statement that
the whole family was dead, to sessions he had had
with psychiatrist Professor Paul Mullen in December nineteen ninety four.

(01:17:22):
Asked to explain the deja vus experience at the Sinfonia
concert with Harriet, Bain described it as simply daydreaming because
he found the piece boring. He denied telling Harriet's friend
Sarah that he had a premonition of something horrible happening,
stating that they had discussed the concept of premonition but
not his own experiences, and that a comment attributed to

(01:17:45):
him about something horrible happening to Harriet had been taken
out of a larger conversation about her other relationship. Bain
also attempted to explain his use of the term black hands,
stating that his first recollect action of the feeling came
on the Tuesday night after the shootings, and that it
was the closest analogy he could find to describe the

(01:18:07):
fear and the image of his family being surrounded and
taken away. Regarding the night of his arrest, Bain stated
that he had terminated the police interview and sought legal
advice because the detectives did not seem to be listening
to his explanations and were only considering one possibility. He
finished giving his evidence at half past two in the afternoon,

(01:18:31):
having been on the stand for approximately three hours, Crown
Prosecutor Bill Wright then began his cross examination of David Bain.
Bain told Wright that he still had gaps in his
memory of the time after entering his mother's room, but
that his recollection was complete up until that point. Wright

(01:18:53):
pressed him further on the black hands, asking if they
were physically taking his family away, to which Bain replied
that it was more like they were covering them as
his family moved away from him. Regarding the trance like states,
Bain described them as simply being away with the fairies
or day dreaming. He clarified that slipping in and slipping

(01:19:16):
out was like briefly losing focus and then returning to reality.
He acknowledged an increase in deja vu in the week
prior to the murders, occurring about every second day, but
stated it was not abnormal for him. Bain maintained that
his relationship with his father was close in loving, although
he conceded that he might have told val Boyd that

(01:19:37):
he hated his father and considered him sneaky, explaining this
as anger if his father was responsible, and referring to
feelings of guilt his father could evoke. He described his
father as trying to reassert his authority within the family
due to the separation from his mother, which Bain did
not resent. He admitted telling Harriet that he hadn't f

(01:20:00):
felt his father was his father, attributing it to anger.
After an argument. Regarding the new house, Bain described it
as a sanctuary or retreat, meant to recreate the natural
environment of Papua New Guinea and provide peace from the
outside world. He expressed concern that the house would not
be built if he left every street, as his sister

(01:20:21):
Arwa might also leave, leaving only his mother and Stephen.
He denied concern that Arwa might flat and his mother
might buy a unit. Bain stated that Arwa was just
as involved in the house plans as he was. He
reiterated that he had no explanation for the glasses and
lens or his finger prints on the rifle, speculating that

(01:20:42):
he must have picked up the rifle at some stage
without remembering. He could not account for the injuries to
his face and knee, or the blood on the light
switch in his room. He said he must have touched
blood for his palm print on the washing machine and
blood in the bathroom, stating when he washed his hands
before doing the wash and did not see blood spots

(01:21:04):
in the basin, also confirming he did not turn on
the light in his bedroom. Asked about the raised voices
on Sunday night, Bain initially said he had not remembered them,
but later recalled hearing them about two or three months
after the murders. Cross examination concluded with Bain outlining how
a misfed bullet could be cleared from the rifle. Following

(01:21:30):
his testimony, David Bain returned to his place between prison guards,
reportedly convinced that his evidence had gone well and that
the jury would find him not guilty. The next defense
witness was psychiatrist Paul Mullen, a professor of psychological medicine
in Dunedin until nineteen ninety two and subsequently a professor
of forensic psychiatry at Monash University in Melbourne. Mullen testified

(01:21:55):
that the deja vous experiences described by Bain were common
and that his trance like states were akin to day dreaming.
He suggested that Bain's initial memory loss could be attributed
to dissociative amnesia, a condition where the brain blocks out
traumatic memories, resulting in incomplete recall. Mullen conceded under cross

(01:22:16):
examination that memory loss could be feigned and recovered memories
could be self serving. The final witness called by the
defense was Kyle Cunningham, Robin Bain's border. The defense had
also subpoenaed Dean Coddle, Lanyette's associate, but he proved difficult
to locate despite the efforts of a private investigator. Kottle

(01:22:37):
only appeared voluntarily at the High Court on the twenty
sixth of May, after the Crown had concluded its closing address.
Justice Neil Williamson permitted Koddle to give evidence, but only
to the judge, not the jury. Kottle claimed he was
unaware of the subpoena and felt confused and incapable of
providing coherent testimony. He denied meeting the private investigator. The

(01:23:00):
judge ultimately concluded that Coddle's hearsay evidence would be unsafe
and unreliable, and refused to allow him to testify before
the jury, a significant setback for the defense, which had
hoped to introduce Lynette's allegations of incest through him. David
Bain remaining confident in his acquittal, had kept a diary

(01:23:20):
while on remand in prison. This diary, according to one
individual who read it closely, revealed no confessions or deep insights,
but rather a remarkable detachment from the evidence against him,
focusing instead on visitors and his personal stress, and expressing
feelings of betrayal by his family. The jury retired to

(01:23:40):
deliberate just before midday on Monday, the twenty ninth of May,
after returning from dinner. In a further short period of
deliberation that evening, the jury forewoman announced the verdicts five times.
She uttered the word guilty. Standing in the dock, David
Bain swayed and then collapsed. Prison god yard Grant Derns

(01:24:01):
carried the seemingly unconscious Baine out of the court room
and to his cell. David Bain was sentenced to sixteen
years in jail without parole and began his term at
paparou A prison near christ Church, a challenging environment where
he encountered members of various gangs. Meanwhile, a legal battle ensued,

(01:24:21):
with his lawyer, Michael Guest, appealing to the Court of Appeal,
arguing that the exclusion of certain evidence had denied Bain
a fair trial. This appeal was ultimately dismissed. Preparations then
commenced for an appeal to the Privy Council in London,
a final legal avenue funded by former All Blacks rugby
player and businessman Joe Carram, who became a determined advocate

(01:24:45):
for Bain's innocence. Karam's involvement stemmed from his belief in
Bain's lack of motive and the conviction that a grave
injustice had occurred. Despite Karam's efforts, the Privy Council initially
rejected the application for leave to a appeal. Karam's dedication
led to the publication of his book, which spurred a
joint investigation into the police inquiry, though it ultimately rejected

(01:25:09):
Karam's claims of incompetence and unfairness. Bain's legal team, now
led by Colin Whithnal QC, applied for the Royal prerogative
of mercy. After several legal steps, the Court of Appeal
reconsidered the case but dismissed the appeal. The fight continued,
leading to a full hearing at the Privy Council in

(01:25:29):
December two thousand eight, by which time, New Zealand's Supreme
Court had become the final court of appeal, but Bain's
case still fell under the old regime. In a significant development,
in May two thousand seven, the Privy Council declared that
a substantial miscarriage of justice had occurred, quashing Bain's convictions

(01:25:51):
and ordering a retrial. The decision of whether to hold
a new trial was left to the Crown. Bain was
subsequently released on bail by the High Court in christ Ran,
to a jubilant reception from supporters. A month later, the
Solicitor General announced that Bain would indeed be retried. The
second trial before Justice Graham Pankhurst began in March two

(01:26:12):
thousand nine. The defense adopted an aggressive strategy, challenging virtually
every aspect of the Crown's case. Pre trial, the defense
fought to prevent the retrial and exclude key Crown evidence,
including Bain's testimony from the first trial and evidence regarding
alleged rape fantasies. While they failed to exclude the former,

(01:26:33):
they succeeded in the latter. One crucial piece of evidence
concerned the emergency call Bain made. The Crown intended to
present newly surfaced evidence suggesting Bain had whispered I shot
the prick or I shot that prick during the call.
This alleged utterance was supposedly detected on a tape using
advanced audio equipment. However, despite analysis by experts for both

(01:26:57):
sides in the United Kingdom, none could defe tinatively identify
the sounds as those specific words, leading the Supreme Court
to rule the evidence inadmissible due to its uncertainty and
lack of definitive probative value. Throughout the retrial, the defense
aimed to highlight alleged flaws and mistakes in the original
investigation to establish reasonable doubt. The defense also sought to

(01:27:21):
portray themselves as the underdog against the might of the
police and the Crown. The prosecution's challenge remained the establishment
of a clear motive for David Bain, given his apparent
demeanor and lack of prior violent behavior. The defense countered
by suggesting Robin Bain was in a state of mind
more conducive to such violence, potentially triggered by the imminent

(01:27:44):
exposure of alleged incest. Justice Pankhurst's summing up was noted
for its fairness, although He indirectly pointed to the presence
of the day's newspaper in the hallway as a strong
point for the Crown, suggesting Robin was following his normal
routine and unaware of impending events. After around five hours

(01:28:06):
of deliberation, the jury delivered a verdict not guilty on
all five counts of murder. The court room erupted in
celebration as David Bain was freed. Following the acquittal, the
focus shifted to the issue of compensation for Bain's thirteen
years of imprisonment. Bain's lawyers lodged a claim for wrongful

(01:28:27):
conviction and imprisonment. In March twenty ten, the Minister of
Justice instructed retired Justice Ian Binnie of the Supreme Court
of Canada to advise on whether Bain was innocent on
the balance of probabilities. Justice Binny's report, delivered in August
twenty twelve, concluded that while Bain had not proven his

(01:28:47):
innocence beyond a reasonable doubt, he had met the standard
of innocence on the balance of probabilities. Binny cited egregious
errors by the Dunedan police as extraordinary circumstances, justifying company
He found the Crown's theory of the murders inherently implausible
and questioned David Bain's motive. However, he found the bloody

(01:29:09):
footprints in the house were more likely robins than David's.
The police were critical of Binny's report, pointing to factual
errors and alleging he gave undue weight to David Bain's evidence.
The Minister of Justice also sought a peer review from
former High Court judge doctor Robert Fisher, who delivered a
highly critical assessment of Binny's report, deeming it unsafe to

(01:29:33):
rely on due to its methodology and overreliance on David
Bain's statements without sufficient corroboration. Justice Binny defended his report,
arguing that Fisher had misconstrued his approach and that he
had been thorough in his consideration of the evidence. The
Bain camp initiated legal proceedings to challenge the handling of

(01:29:54):
Binny's report. However, a settlement was reached with a new
Justice Minister, Amy Adams, who ordered a fresh compensation inquiry.
Retired Australian High Court Judge Ian Callanan was appointed to
conduct this new inquiry. In March twenty fifteen, his report,
delivered in January twenty sixteen, acknowledged the complexity of the case,

(01:30:16):
but concluded that David Bain had not proven, on the
balance of probabilities that he did not kill his family.
Colin entreated the inquiry like a civil case, placing the
onus on Bain to demonstrate his innocence. He gave little
weight to hearsay evidence regarding incest, but noted David Bain's
expressed animosity towards his father as a possible motive. Ultimately,

(01:30:39):
in August twenty sixteen, the government announced an ex grasha
payment of nine hundred and twenty five thousand dollars to
David Bain, acknowledging the time and expenses incurred in his
compensation claim and aiming to avoid further litigation. This payment
was not an admission of wrongful conviction, and the Bain
team agreed not to seek any further funds. The central

(01:31:08):
crucial question remains who killed the Bain family, David Bain
or his father, Robin Bain. These are presented as the
only two possibilities, as no evidence suggests the involvement of
a third party. Martin van Binen, the author of the
book Black hands, which heavily informs this episode asserts his
view that David Bain is the killer, and to understand

(01:31:30):
this conclusion, the author suggests starting with the violent struggle
that occurred in Stephen Bain's room. The author posits that,
regardless of who the killer was, the initial plan likely
involved killing the family while they slept, a method deemed
the most painless and clinical. This approach would have minimized
resistance or attempts to flee. However, this plan went awry

(01:31:54):
when Stephen woke and fought for his life in a
desperate and prolonged struggle. Of This fight left Stephen with
numerous injuries, including bruises, scrapes, cuts, and impressions of drawer
handles on his back, along with blood from a superficial
head wound and a gunshot wound to his hand scattered
throughout the room. Crucially, the author highlights the comparison between

(01:32:18):
the injuries sustained by Robin and David. According to the author,
only David exhibited injuries and scratches consistent with a vigorous fight,
including at least three bruises on the right side of
his head and a graze on his knee that bore
a striking resemblance to abrasions on Stephen's body. The author
considers the scratches or marks on David's chest seen by

(01:32:41):
two witnesses as almost conclusive evidence of David's guilt, suggesting
that the police doctor might have missed them or that
David concealed them during the examination. In contrast, Robin had
no fresh injuries other than the fatal gunshot wound, and
the minor nicks on his hands could be attributed to
routine tasks. The presence of Stephen's blood on David's shirt, shorts,

(01:33:04):
and socks is another key piece of evidence cited by
the author. While acknowledging that some blood transfer could have
occurred from contact with surfaces, the location of blood, particularly
on David's shorts, raises questions. Robin's clothing was also blood stained,
but the blood was solely his own, implying that if

(01:33:25):
he were the killer, he would have had to change
his clothes and socks before his death and place the
bloodied garments in the laundry. The author finds it peculiar
that Robin would clean up and change clothes yet leave
traces of his family's blood on his hands, especially since
no blood was found on the lounge door handle or
the computer he supposedly used. The discovery of Margaret's broken

(01:33:49):
glasses in David's room, with one lens dislodged and found
in Stephen's room is presented as further compelling evidence the
glasses were useful to David could not explain their presence
or the separated lens. The author suggests this scenario aligns
perfectly with the fight in Stephen's room, inferring that the

(01:34:09):
glasses were likely damaged during the struggle. Furthermore, David's finger
prints were found in blood on the rifle's stock, while
David claimed he did not touch the rifle after returning
from his paper round. The author questions how the prince
could have remained so clear without smearing if blood had
gotten on his fingers from elsewhere. The author also finds

(01:34:32):
it unlikely that old, dried blood prints from a previous
rabbit shooting trip would have survived the handling of the
rifle during the five killings and the fight with Stephen.
The author also analyzes David's account of hearing Lanaiette gurgling,
while acknowledging the possibility of post mortem sounds. The author
finds it more likely that Lanaiette was still alive after

(01:34:54):
being shot in the cheek, and that David heard her
struggling to breathe. This, according to the author, leads to
the conclusion that David must have fired the subsequent fatal shots.
In contrast to the evidence against David, the author argues
that Robin did not leave a single clear clue implicating
him as the killer. The author revisits the sock print

(01:35:18):
evidence heavily relied upon by Justice Binny and finds the
methodology of the experiments flawed and not truly representative of
the conditions in the Bain house. The author also points
out numerous implausible actions Robin would have had to take
if he were the killer, such as neatly replacing a
lid on a jar containing a key, wearing David's gloves,

(01:35:40):
escaping a violent fight with minimal injuries, closing a curtain
after passing through, cleaning up and changing clothes while David
was due home imminently, leaving a puzzling computer message, and
shooting himself in an unusual manner. The lack of Robin's
finger prints or blood on the rifle is also noted. Ultimately,

(01:36:00):
Van Baynen concludes that the weight of the evidence, particularly
David's injuries, the blood on his clothes, the lens connecting
him to the fight, his finger prints on the rifle
in blood, and the likely scenario surrounding Lynniat's gurgling, strongly
suggests David's guilt. The author believes that David's account is
often inconsistent and unreliable, potentially masking the truth of his

(01:36:24):
involvement in the murders. While acknowledging the lack of a
definitively proven motive, the author speculates that David's actions may
have stemmed from resentment, a desire for control, or a
reaction to perceived failures in his life. Despite the authour's
conviction of David's guilt, they express no desire to see
him imprisoned again, given the time he has already served.

(01:36:48):
The author's final assertion is that the New Zealand public
has every reason to doubt David's innocence, and that despite
his continued denials, the truth, in the authour's view, is
that David Bain murdered his fairely. By this time of

(01:37:09):
his ex gratia payment in twenty sixteen, Bain, who had
spent approximately thirteen years in prison before his acquittal, had
already begun the process of rebuilding his life away from
the intense public gaze that had followed him for over
two decades. As noted in the twenty thirteen publication Black Hands,
David Bain, then forty eight years old, he was living

(01:37:32):
near Hamilton with his wife, Liz Davies, the daughter of
his longtime supporter Carolyn. Liz was working as a primary
school teacher, and David was reportedly a stay at home father.
More recent information from a March twenty twenty five Otago
Daily Times article marking the thirtieth anniversary of the murders
indicates that David Bain now goes by the name William Davies.

(01:37:56):
Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, suggest testing
he continues to maintain a low profile and avoid public attention.
Friends of his, including his steadfast advocate Joe Caram, reported
that the fifty two year old was keen to leave
the traumatic chapter of his life behind him. The article
also mentioned that he reportedly resides in Cambridge, a town

(01:38:18):
in the Waikato region. The information available suggests that since
the ex gratia payment. David Bain has focused on living
a private life with his family in the Waikato region
of New Zealand. He has taken steps to distance himself
from his former identity and the notoriety associated with the
Bain family murder case. His reported desire to leave the

(01:38:40):
past behind indicates a continued effort to find normalcy and
peace after decades of intense public and legal scrutiny. The
absence of recent public statements or appearances underscores his commitment
to maintaining this private existence. Hey, there, I just wanted

(01:39:07):
to say thank you for the latest episode. I had
heard of the Shanda share A case before, but the
way you told it really hit different. You struck a
perfect balance between sensitivity and detail, and I was totally
hooked from start to finish. Honestly, I had to pause
a few times some parts were just so heavy, but
I appreciate that you didn't shy away from how brutal

(01:39:27):
the case was while still being respectful to Shanda's memory.
It's wild how young all the girls were, especially Melinda,
like middle school drama turning into murder unreal. What really
got me was the part where Shanda called out for
her mom during the torture. That detail completely broke me.
I don't know how you managed to narrate that with
so much care, but it really stayed with me. Please

(01:39:50):
keep doing what you're doing. Your storytelling is amazing and
I love how you handle tough topics with empathy and respect.
Can't wait for the next episode. Emily Saunders, Portlan, Oregon. Hey,
just listen to the Shanda Scherer episode, and I got
to say I thought I knew the case pretty well,
but you brought out some stuff I hadn't heard before,

(01:40:10):
especially around the group dynamic between the girls. You really
made me feel how chaotic and manipulative it all was
one small thing I noticed you didn't mention and no
shade at all. The episode was awesome. During Melinda's trial,
I think they brought up that she'd been sexually abused
by her cousin when she was younger. Not saying that

(01:40:30):
excuse is anything, obviously, but it adds a layer to
how messed up her background was and maybe why she
latched onto Amanda so hard. Anyway, I've been binging your
show for a while and this episode was one of
your best. Keep it up your storytelling, style and pacing
are top tier. Jake Martinez, San Antonio, Texas

All Episodes

#07: The Bain Family Murders - A Father’s Confession or a Son’s Setup?

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}#07: The Bain Family Murders - A Father’s Confession or a Son’s Setup?