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Rex Haig, who spent more than a decade in prison before having his murder conviction quashed, is chasing compensation which could top $1 million.
The 61-year-old was jailed in 1995 after being found guilty of murdering Invercargill fisherman Mark Roderique, a crew member on his fishing boat, The
Antares, on the South Island's West Coast.
In August 2006, nearly two years after Haig was released on parole, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction and found there was an "evidential basis" to suggest Haig's nephew and crewmate, David Hogan, may have been the killer.
Hogan, who was given immunity by police to testify against Haig, denies he was responsible.
Following the Court of Appeal decision Haig claimed compensation, and legal experts estimated he stood to collect up to $2m.
Dr Robert Fisher, QC, completed an assessment of Haig's claim the week before Christmas and presented it to Justice Minister Simon Power.
"The minister is still considering it," said Power's spokesman Brent Webling. "If Fisher has recommended compensation then the minister will take that recommendation to Cabinet and it will decide how much if any amount is awarded."
Haig, who lives with his partner in Christchurch and installs heatpumps for a living, said he had read about 50 pages of the draft report and thought it looked promising. "I am hoping it will go in my favour, it does look that way but all I can do is wait... I've been waiting now for 15 years."
If compensation is recommended Haig will make a submission on the amount that he was seeking.
Cabinet guidelines say the starting figure should be about $100,000 for every year of imprisonment and he would also claim compensation to cover legal fees, lost wages and loss of freedom.
"Once I get the compensation that will be the end of my part in this case. It has been a long arduous road, I will be glad when it's over."
If compensation was awarded, Haig said he planned to spend most of it regaining the years he lost with his three children.
"They all moved to Sydney to get away when it first happened," he said. "My two daughters have come back and live in Dunedin, my son is still over in Australia.
"I just hope I can see more of them and that I don't have to work as much as I do now. I will still work, I won't be sitting back on my arse, but I want to be able to do things for them and with them."
Webling was unsure when Power would present the report to Cabinet. "I don't have a timeline for when a decision will be made."
