Jurors at Bain's party

David Bain and Joe Karam wave to supporters as they leave court. Photo / Simon Baker

Two jurors who attended David Bain's celebration party left just minutes later feeling it was "inappropriate" - but still want to meet the man they freed.

A male juror who approached the Herald on Sunday after being introduced by a female juror, said they were so caught up in the emotion of Bain's release that both accepted an invitation from Bain's chief supporter Joe Karam.

The invitation came after the jury left court and found themselves in the path of supporters and media who followed Bain as he left court.

The male juror, who has a law degree, said: "We happened to come out when David came out. There was this huge party atmosphere of jubilation and celebration which you feel justifiably part of. We stood there and clapped and smiled at him and waved. It was good."

He said Bain came up to him, hugged his fellow juror and then shook his hand, saying over and over, "thank you, thank you".

"I felt guilty that he acted grateful to me, which he was," said the juror. "He shook my hand and said 'thank you, thank you' as if it was my gift to him. It wasn't my gift to him. I dealt with the facts."

The juror also shook Karam's hand. "And Joe said, 'we're having a party later, come and join us'. It was great to be part of that feeling but on reflection, when we got there, it may have been a bit inappropriate."

The pair left after only a few moments.

The juror also told how Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire reduced him to tears two weeks after the trial began - a sign of the tremendous pressure the group of 12 were subjected to.

"I couldn't watch it. I had to walk out. I couldn't deal with it. It was too real, too raw, way too graphic."

"I walked out of the cinema actually sobbing and went to the pub. It took me two hours to get over a stupid film, especially a feelgood film - it was far from feelgood as far as I was concerned."

The way the court system deals with the emotional toll on a jury was the main point the juror wanted to make in the wake of the trial.

When the verdict was given, many burst into tears, a reflection, he says, of the stress they had been under.

"At the end of each day we would go home and just crash. We were so wrung out by the entire process and could not handle anything more each day.

"They provide you with counselling after the case. You don't need counselling after the case. It's a bit damage-done then. By then, you've already had three months of not sleeping."

The juror said the case had also had a high financial impact, costing him $3000 a week in lost income. The system provides for a daily payment of $80 a day.