Convicted mass murderer’s last chance - defence blames the late father!

The final step in a decade-long bid to free convicted murderer David Bain starts in London on Thursday.

He is serving a minimum 16-year sentence after being convicted of the 1994 murders of his parents, two sisters and brother in Dunedin.

A series of appeals to clear his name in New Zealand have been unsuccessful and the Privy Council in London is his final hope.

The hearing is set down for five days but it could be cut short if the Law Lords are swayed.

The team trying to get his conviction overturned believes it has a compelling case that his father was behind the 1994 slaughter in Dunedin.

New evidence will centre around bloody footprints found in the house. Bain’s team will allege those footprints belonged to father Robin Bain rather than David.

If the Privy Council accepts the evidence of Bain’s lawyers, it can order a re-trial.

The Supreme Court was set up in New Zealand in 2003 to replace the Privy Council, but some special cases are still accepted by the council for consideration.