In the early hours of June 20, 1994, police in Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island, responded to a horrifying call - a family had been murdered.

Inside the Bain home, officers discovered a scene of devastation: 58-year-old Robin Bain, his wife Margaret, 50, and their children Arawa, 19, Laniet, 18, and Stephen, 14 had all been shot dead.

Only one member of the family was still alive. Their eldest son, 22-year-old David Bain, was found inside the house after calling police himself. At first glance, it looked like his father Robin had murdered the family before taking his own life. On a computer nearby, a chilling message was left behind: “Sorry, you are the only one who deserved to stay.”

But just days later, the story twisted. David was arrested and charged with the murders of his own family. He would spend 13 years in prison before being acquitted in 2009.

With no one currently serving time for the murders of a whole family – was it David who killed his parents and siblings or his father Robin who killed his family and spared David?

This is the story of the Bain Family.

Information and support  

• Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans  
• Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Home - AAFDA 
• Women’s Aid Home - Women's Aid 
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK 0808 2000 247 
• Mental health support USA Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America 
• Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline  

References  

The Bain murders 30 years on: Where is David? Why are Kiwis obsessed with this case? And why his lawyer says questions remain - NZ Herald

Bain family murders: 30 years on, case continues to grip the public | RNZ News

BLACK HANDS - A family mass murder - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Bain family murders - Wikipedia

Bain family murders, 1994 | NZ History

The Bain family murders, 30 years on | Otago Daily Times Online News

Margaret Arawa Cullen Bain (1943-1994) - Find a Grave Memorial

Margaret had problems, court hears | Otago Daily Times Online News

Blood found on washing machine, Bain trial told - NZ Herald

David Cullen Bain v The Queen - vLex United Kingdom

David Bain | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

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