Party first, then back to normal life

Lindsay Robertson says he's elated by the verdict. Photo / Pool

It is 798km from Dunedin to Christchurch Men's Prison and back - and supporter Lindsay Robertson would know.

He and wife Patti Napier have put 150,000km on their car, worn out two sets of tyres and spent more time "than they would like to think" in prison, visiting David Bain every month for 12 years.

The devoted supporters were yesterday elated at the jury's not-guilty verdict.

"It is fan-bloody-tastic," Mr Robertson said.

He said helping Mr Bain to fight had been "a big chunk of our life".

His life would now recover some semblance of normality - after a big celebration.

The couple had celebrated with Mr Bain when he was granted bail in Christchurch in May 2007, after the Privy Council quashed his convictions.

Mr Robertson said Mr Bain's supporters, who he estimated filled 80 per cent of the public gallery, were incredibly nervous before the verdict.

He arrived in Christchurch this week and said the tension was palpable.

Mr Robertson said he did not know whether Mr Bain would come back to Dunedin to see his supporters and visit the city in which he grew up.

As a condition of his bail, Mr Bain had not been allowed to visit the South Island, where many of his extended family live.

"I don't think he has given any thought to what happens now.

"He has a got a lot of friends in Dunedin who would just love him to come and stay with them."

Friends of David Bain group head Catherine Spencer, who was also in Christchurch for the outcome of the trial, said the verdict was "fantastic news" which had taken too long to come.

Ms Spencer said there would be big parties with Mr Bain and all his supporters.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES