Trial by Ambush: The Prosecutions of David Bain by Joe Karam explores the legal saga of the Bain family murders. It argues that the original 1995 trial was deeply flawed, detailing what the author describes as police bias, mishandled evidence, and a one-sided prosecution.
The Bain family murders, one of New Zealand's most infamous criminal cases, took place in Dunedin on June 20, 1994, when five members of the family were shot dead. David Bain was found guilty of the murders in 1995 and spent 13 years in prison. Karam, a former All Black, spearheaded a massive campaign to clear David's name, arguing that the police rushed to judgment rather than properly investigating his father, Robin Bain.
Following appeals, the Privy Council quashed the convictions in 2007. After a high-profile retrial in 2009, David Bain was acquitted of all charges. The book Trial by Ambush examines the mechanics of the Crown's prosecution and how the case against David was ultimately dismantled over a 12-year legal battle.
488 pages
19.69 x 4.39 x 25.4 cm
Illustrated
First published 2012
This copy in excellent condition.