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Michael Bain - Source: Close Up -
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David Bain's uncle, Michael Bain, has spoken out publicly in his first television interview since the retrial which saw David Bain walk from court a free man.
In June, David Bain was acquitted of the murders of five members of his family, including his father Robin, at their Dunedin home, about 15 years ago.
The jury heard Robin Bain was having an incestuous affair with his daughter Laniet and because the affair was about to come out, he had the motive to kill his family.
But his brother Michael says that was not true and is speaking out, because he says his brother's reputation has been destroyed.
"We believe the allegations of a relationship between (Robin) and his daughter (Laniet) were not based on fact at all," Michael Bain told Close Up's Mark Sainsbury.
"This hearsay evidence was hearsay that destroyed my brother's reputation and I think that is wrong and unfair."
However, David Bain campaigner Joe Karam says Michael Bain did not know his dead brother well enough to say publicly he was not a killer.
Karam told NZPA Michael Bain had seen his brother less than six times in more than 20 years before the killings.
"It is nice that he loves his brother but I think he is in denial, really.
"The evidence was very clear he (Robin) was in a seriously declining mental condition."
Karam led the battle to take the case to the Privy Council in England which led to the retrial and not guilty verdicts for David Bain.
Another group, fighting to clear the name of Robin Bain, says Karam had never met him and could not pretend to know better than Michael Bain about his brother's character.
"I'm not going to be in the position where I am accusing David, because he's already been accused and he has already been through a court of law and he's been acquitted," Michael Bain said on Close Up.
"My focus is in restoring my brother Robin's damaged reputation.
"And I don't think it was Robin that committed those offences, so you can draw your own inference from that."
