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Black Hands: Inside the Bain Family Murders
A gripping account of New Zealand's most controversial criminal case, from Martin van Beynen, the award-winning journalist behind the Black Hands podcast.
This is the story of a mass-murder that divided a nation.
It began in a rickety old house on a cold June morning in 1994, where five members of a seemingly ordinary New Zealand family were gunned down.There were two suspects. One lay dead from a single bullet to the head. The other was the only survivor: David Bain. Since then, the country has asked: Who killed the Bain family? David, or his father Robin? And why?Award-winning journalist Martin van Beynen has covered the Bain story closely for decades. His 2017 Stuff podcast, Black Hands - based on the manuscript for this book - topped the charts in New Zealand and around the world and has been downloaded more than 5 million times. Now, his book brings the story completely up to date: exploring the case from start to finish, picking through evidence old and new, plumbing the mysteries and motives, interviewing never-before-spoken-to witnesses andguiding readers through the complex police investigation and court cases, seeking to finally answer the question: Who was the killer?Black Hands is a riveting read from the first word to the last, by a skilled writer who knows his subject inside out.
“If anyone can pass judgement it can only be those who sat through the whole trial.” - David Bain in New Idea
This is the story of a mass-murder that divided a nation.
It began in a rickety old house on a cold June morning in 1994, where five members of a seemingly ordinary New Zealand family were gunned down.There were two suspects. One lay dead from a single bullet to the head. The other was the only survivor: David Bain. Since then, the country has asked: Who killed the Bain family? David, or his father Robin? And why?Award-winning journalist Martin van Beynen has covered the Bain story closely for decades. His 2017 Stuff podcast, Black Hands - based on the manuscript for this book - topped the charts in New Zealand and around the world and has been downloaded more than 5 million times. Now, his book brings the story completely up to date: exploring the case from start to finish, picking through evidence old and new, plumbing the mysteries and motives, interviewing never-before-spoken-to witnesses andguiding readers through the complex police investigation and court cases, seeking to finally answer the question: Who was the killer?Black Hands is a riveting read from the first word to the last, by a skilled writer who knows his subject inside out.
“If anyone can pass judgement it can only be those who sat through the whole trial.” - David Bain in New Idea
304 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2020
22 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 13, 2020
Growing up I always had an interest in this case as it is one of the most well known cases in my country. As a 13 year old, the only book available to read was Joe Karam’s first book, which I devoured and naively bought as the truth.
When the podcast Black Hands was released I devoured that, too. It made my long held opinion on David’s innocence do a 180 as evidence I had ever heard of was given. Around the same time, I met a detective on a plane who had worked the case and he was the first person to have told me about the magazine near Robin’s hand. He told me that the forensic team had tried to replicate the magazine falling in the same manner and it was exceptionally unlikely (something like 0.5 in 10,000 times), that that would occur.
So when I saw this book released I grabbed it with greedy hands (pun intended), and devoured it.
As with the podcast, it’s an extremely well written and well researched book and I can see why the author has won awards for his work.
Although most books have biases, and this does too, the author does a good job of displaying the evidence both for and against David’s innocence or guilt. He shows how, if Robin perpetrated this crime, the evidence defies logic.
Fantastic book and I highly, highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a well written and balanced book about an absolutely horrific case.
Personally, I think David should still be behind bars.
When the podcast Black Hands was released I devoured that, too. It made my long held opinion on David’s innocence do a 180 as evidence I had ever heard of was given. Around the same time, I met a detective on a plane who had worked the case and he was the first person to have told me about the magazine near Robin’s hand. He told me that the forensic team had tried to replicate the magazine falling in the same manner and it was exceptionally unlikely (something like 0.5 in 10,000 times), that that would occur.
So when I saw this book released I grabbed it with greedy hands (pun intended), and devoured it.
As with the podcast, it’s an extremely well written and well researched book and I can see why the author has won awards for his work.
Although most books have biases, and this does too, the author does a good job of displaying the evidence both for and against David’s innocence or guilt. He shows how, if Robin perpetrated this crime, the evidence defies logic.
Fantastic book and I highly, highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a well written and balanced book about an absolutely horrific case.
Personally, I think David should still be behind bars.
January 13, 2023
Interesting enough and very well researched, this is an intriguing ‘whodunnit’ - and I’m still none the wiser as to who that is!! 🤦🏻♀️
As a big fan of this genre, I was surprised to find that I hadn’t previously heard of the Bain family murders so this was all new to me.
I went into it completely unbiased, and choose to reserve judgement on this one as quite frankly I’m still not sure!
I can understand why this event is still a hot topic of debate over in New Zealand, it’s a fascinating case.
A well written and meticulously detailed book.
As a big fan of this genre, I was surprised to find that I hadn’t previously heard of the Bain family murders so this was all new to me.
I went into it completely unbiased, and choose to reserve judgement on this one as quite frankly I’m still not sure!
I can understand why this event is still a hot topic of debate over in New Zealand, it’s a fascinating case.
A well written and meticulously detailed book.
September 7, 2021
Having read various books before van Beynen's account on the killings in June 1994 of five members of the Bain family as well as newspaper accounts over the years, a scenario that was repeatedly and effectively presented was that Robin Bain prompted by a dysfunctional family as well as apparent and unsubstantiated claims of sexual abuse from one of his daughters and also partly by an old Agatha Christie paperback, ventured from his caravan one June morning after David had left for his paper round, entered David's bedroom and located a key from a place known apparently only to David to retrieve David's rifle, put on a green pullover only to remove this after the killings, borrowed David's white gloves and proceeded to shoot four members of his family including teenage son Stephen, which included a strong physical encounter with Stephen suffering several abrasions and resulting in blood around the bedroom as well as saturating the gloves with Stephen's blood. Robin having taken care not to sustain any personal injuries then proceeded to place the pullover amongst other clothes for washing next to or inside the washing machine and after turning on and waiting for the computer to boot and typing an admission of blame to David then put the rifle some centimetres from his head on his left side and committed suicide, successfully managing to leave no identifying fingerprints on the rifle and for the bullet shell to make its way between a pair of curtains and landing in the alcove, more or less at the time David was due to return home from his paper run. A lens found in Steven's room from the glasses David had been using was, it has been claimed, a police plant – perhaps thinking that the bloodied gloves were not enough - or had simply arrived there by chance.
Van Beynen finds the above or similar reconstructions however not tenable and concludes in this account that the circumstances and evidence points to David being the killer of not only his siblings and mother but also his father, Robin.
Having now read van Beynen’s book and similar accounts one could perhaps more easily imagine that David at 21 living in the same dysfunctional and hopeless environment and dogged with similar fantasies as his sister Laniet about a new house etc. finally has a brain explosion and sets out to destroy all that is left – except Kaycee – by getting up extra early, putting on his mother’s spare glasses – his own undergoing repair - and proceed with his rifle and more recently acquired silencer to systematically shoot all of the family members sleeping in the house and set off on his paper run before returning more or less at his usual time if not earlier, putting on the washing machine with bloodied clothing, then retrieving his rifle and turning on the computer, pointing the rifle between the curtains of the alcove at almost point blank range before firing a single shot through his father's head, then placing the round magazines carefully in the lounge and returning to the computer to write some obscure message purportedly written by Robin. Some 20 minutes or so following saw a settling down and review of some of his handiwork, particularly in Stephen’s room where he fails to find a lost glass lens or retrieve his white gloves then pick up the phone with some urgent message that all his family were dead. When the ambulance etc. arrives he fails to unlock the door so the police have to break in. David subsequently fails to account among other things for various knocks and bruises on his face and body.
There is even the suggestion that David, delayed by his unexpected altercation with Stephen left for his paper run later than planned – he may even have started off the washing machine at this stage – and failed to fully complete his paper run before needing to get home so to carry out the last part of his plan while Robin was praying in the lounge – and returned to finish the last of his run as two witnesses seemed to suggest, returning some time after 7 o clock. The message aside, there is no evidence that it was indeed David who turned on the computer.
So all sorts of questions abound – for instance if Robin was going to admit to the killings why use David’s gloves and also the green pullover only to take it off again and then proceed to wash himself and change the rest of his clothing before suiciding, and to type some ambiguous message instead of simply writing a clearly signed note. Similarly after a cold night in the caravan how was Robin on a full bladder able to undertake a series of killings and then after all that enter the lounge for prayer without at some stage feeling the need to relieve himself – it perhaps was some feat in itself simply to go into the lounge and pray without taking the opportunity between time to do so.
Van Beynen draws his own conclusions – as does Karam in his three books – and each person will have their own view whether or not they personally viewed the two trials, relied on transcripts of the trials, watched the recent drama on tv, or whatever. Perhaps for my part I recommend van Beynen’s book and podcast and also Tom Scott’s cartoon dated 10 March 2012 which depicts David Bain on being asked how come his Dad typed out a message on a computer saying David deserved to live when he could have scribbled a note replies “Yes, but what if the note wasn’t in his handwriting. Have you thought about that smarty pants?”
Van Beynen finds the above or similar reconstructions however not tenable and concludes in this account that the circumstances and evidence points to David being the killer of not only his siblings and mother but also his father, Robin.
Having now read van Beynen’s book and similar accounts one could perhaps more easily imagine that David at 21 living in the same dysfunctional and hopeless environment and dogged with similar fantasies as his sister Laniet about a new house etc. finally has a brain explosion and sets out to destroy all that is left – except Kaycee – by getting up extra early, putting on his mother’s spare glasses – his own undergoing repair - and proceed with his rifle and more recently acquired silencer to systematically shoot all of the family members sleeping in the house and set off on his paper run before returning more or less at his usual time if not earlier, putting on the washing machine with bloodied clothing, then retrieving his rifle and turning on the computer, pointing the rifle between the curtains of the alcove at almost point blank range before firing a single shot through his father's head, then placing the round magazines carefully in the lounge and returning to the computer to write some obscure message purportedly written by Robin. Some 20 minutes or so following saw a settling down and review of some of his handiwork, particularly in Stephen’s room where he fails to find a lost glass lens or retrieve his white gloves then pick up the phone with some urgent message that all his family were dead. When the ambulance etc. arrives he fails to unlock the door so the police have to break in. David subsequently fails to account among other things for various knocks and bruises on his face and body.
There is even the suggestion that David, delayed by his unexpected altercation with Stephen left for his paper run later than planned – he may even have started off the washing machine at this stage – and failed to fully complete his paper run before needing to get home so to carry out the last part of his plan while Robin was praying in the lounge – and returned to finish the last of his run as two witnesses seemed to suggest, returning some time after 7 o clock. The message aside, there is no evidence that it was indeed David who turned on the computer.
So all sorts of questions abound – for instance if Robin was going to admit to the killings why use David’s gloves and also the green pullover only to take it off again and then proceed to wash himself and change the rest of his clothing before suiciding, and to type some ambiguous message instead of simply writing a clearly signed note. Similarly after a cold night in the caravan how was Robin on a full bladder able to undertake a series of killings and then after all that enter the lounge for prayer without at some stage feeling the need to relieve himself – it perhaps was some feat in itself simply to go into the lounge and pray without taking the opportunity between time to do so.
Van Beynen draws his own conclusions – as does Karam in his three books – and each person will have their own view whether or not they personally viewed the two trials, relied on transcripts of the trials, watched the recent drama on tv, or whatever. Perhaps for my part I recommend van Beynen’s book and podcast and also Tom Scott’s cartoon dated 10 March 2012 which depicts David Bain on being asked how come his Dad typed out a message on a computer saying David deserved to live when he could have scribbled a note replies “Yes, but what if the note wasn’t in his handwriting. Have you thought about that smarty pants?”
April 2, 2021
So now after reading countless books, podcast ING, watching TV reports and docs I am still unchanged in my opinion that David did the crime.
This book is good and you get more than the podcast I felt.
This book is good and you get more than the podcast I felt.
March 20, 2022
Ngl I think he’s guilty
August 5, 2022
True crime is not my usual go to, but since it was a book club selection, I decided to give it a go.
There is something morbidly fascinating about this case. How does such an awful event happen to a seemingly ‘normal’ middle class family?
Did a well-respected principal snap and kill his family after years of caring for other people’s children?
Or did the eldest child do it?
I wanted to know more. Unfortunately, there is no more, and questions remain as unanswered as they did in 1994.
Van Beynen sifts through the evidence, statements, testimonies and witness accounts, as they were then and in the retrial and comes up with the same suggestion as the jury did in 1995, that David Bain killed his family.
The only question is motive. And the argument for either of the Bain family suspects, is sketchy at best, but then again, people have killed for much less.
In 2022, I am far less surprised at the awfulness that humans are capable of than those involved in ‘94/95. With regular gun massacres in the US, women being killed by current/former partners almost weekly in Australia, and more true crime books, documentaries, and podcasts than you can poke a stick at - I get more surprised at positive demonstrations of humanity than negative ones.
So, the question of motive, for David or Robin, remains.
Know one knows the answer, and no one is likely to ever know what really happened on June 20th 1994.
What I believe, is that the police royally screwed the pooch. Had they conducted the investigation more professionally, the initial verdict may have stuck. Or the case for Robin as the murderer would have been made more clear.
I also believe that this was premeditated, cold-blooded murder, and my heart aches for the Bain family, they were a little toxic, very dysfunctional, and dirty hoarders, but that doesn’t mean that they deserved to die. My thoughts especially go out to Stephen, who bravely, and valiantly, but ultimately unsuccessfully, fought off his attacker. What he went through in his last few minutes is sure to haunt me for a long time yet.
There is something morbidly fascinating about this case. How does such an awful event happen to a seemingly ‘normal’ middle class family?
Did a well-respected principal snap and kill his family after years of caring for other people’s children?
Or did the eldest child do it?
I wanted to know more. Unfortunately, there is no more, and questions remain as unanswered as they did in 1994.
Van Beynen sifts through the evidence, statements, testimonies and witness accounts, as they were then and in the retrial and comes up with the same suggestion as the jury did in 1995, that David Bain killed his family.
The only question is motive. And the argument for either of the Bain family suspects, is sketchy at best, but then again, people have killed for much less.
In 2022, I am far less surprised at the awfulness that humans are capable of than those involved in ‘94/95. With regular gun massacres in the US, women being killed by current/former partners almost weekly in Australia, and more true crime books, documentaries, and podcasts than you can poke a stick at - I get more surprised at positive demonstrations of humanity than negative ones.
So, the question of motive, for David or Robin, remains.
Know one knows the answer, and no one is likely to ever know what really happened on June 20th 1994.
What I believe, is that the police royally screwed the pooch. Had they conducted the investigation more professionally, the initial verdict may have stuck. Or the case for Robin as the murderer would have been made more clear.
I also believe that this was premeditated, cold-blooded murder, and my heart aches for the Bain family, they were a little toxic, very dysfunctional, and dirty hoarders, but that doesn’t mean that they deserved to die. My thoughts especially go out to Stephen, who bravely, and valiantly, but ultimately unsuccessfully, fought off his attacker. What he went through in his last few minutes is sure to haunt me for a long time yet.
April 11, 2021
as a true crime junkie, reading something from new zealand, where everywhere feels like its practically your backyard and youre only ever 3 degrees away from knowing someone who knows someone who was involved, this was pretty freaky. an insightful, clear, detailed (and yet not overwhelming) recounting of the bain murders with all the benefits of hindsight. the author makes no attempt to hide his bias in who he believes committed the murders, but to his credit he also tells you up front what he believes in the introduction. definitely a very eerie sensation to read about such an intense case when its your own country, and not even that long ago. p.s. david was definitely the murderer.
September 29, 2024
Good overview of the David Bain case and the two trials that occurred. A lot of bias within but this was acknowledged by the author who made a compelling case for David being guilty. Worth reading if you don't know much about the case outside of remembering it all of the news at the time and the woolen sweaters
June 13, 2022
Hells yeah he did it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2021
Excellent book, and excellent podcast too.
On the title - does gunshot residue ever leave visible black marks on the hands? I know printers ink from newspapers can.
On the title - does gunshot residue ever leave visible black marks on the hands? I know printers ink from newspapers can.
November 20, 2020
Highly recommend reading 'David and Goliath' by Joe Karam before reading this book. You will get much more out of it.
April 18, 2021
I listened to the podcast, which was excellent. The book more or less follows the same formula, which is excellent investigative journalism looking at the crime and the family context in which it occurred. I have no doubt David did it: why would Robin leave a suicide note on the computer stating that only David "deserved" to "stay"? Surely he would just handwrite a note using the correct tense "deserves" if he indeed was to blame. The author methodically picks apart the evidence, demonstrating that the weight disproportionately points to David as the killer. There are still mysteries to ponder, such as why he did it, and the exact sequence of events as they unfolded. A good read for fans of True Crime, especially for Kiwis interested in the genre.
January 25, 2021
A great read! So well researched and written and the photos add to the experience. I especially was interested in the analogy with other serial killers. Not all men who kill their families are nasty horrible maniacs. Some of them like David Bain are fairly ordinary people who for some reason want their families out of the way. I think that if Stephen hadn’t fought back David would have totally got away with the murders. I wonder if he’s read this book?
May 9, 2021
The Bain Family murders are a case that fascinated New Zealand - did David kill his family or did his father? I believed that David was innocent until I heard the fantastic Black Hands podcast. In both the podcast & this book, Martin Van Beynen states that he believes that David is the killer, and he has done the research to back this up. He has compared the evidence for both David & Robin committing the murders, and I agree that it points to David being the killer.
July 12, 2021
This book suffers from issues of structure.
Essentially it ends in the middle and then returns to the beginning in the second half to expound on the evidence, supposed or otherwise, where it would have benefited from being structured more linearly.
This might seem like a petty complaint to make, but the structural issue in this one is jarring enough to turn one off the book and in the end I couldn’t finish it as a result.
Essentially it ends in the middle and then returns to the beginning in the second half to expound on the evidence, supposed or otherwise, where it would have benefited from being structured more linearly.
This might seem like a petty complaint to make, but the structural issue in this one is jarring enough to turn one off the book and in the end I couldn’t finish it as a result.
March 13, 2022
Read and mostly enjoyed. Learnt some new things. Wish the author had expanded a little more on some things. Disagreed with some of his postulations. Overall, I think the author made a great effort to present both sides. I usually like non-fiction, so I was surprised at myself when I found parts a little boring. It may have had little to do with the book, and more to do with the way I was feeling at the time. At times I struggled to persevere. But persevere I did. Worth it. Recommended.
March 6, 2023
This was one of the most thoroughly researched and well laid out accounts of a murder that I have read. Both sides of the arguement are well defined and made it hard for me to come to an absolute decision as to where the guilt lays. I find myself rereading certain passages to see if I can gain a better perspective and come to a resolution.
A big thank you to my niece who is currently residing in New Zealand and sent this book to me!
A big thank you to my niece who is currently residing in New Zealand and sent this book to me!
July 22, 2025
Excellent critical analysis of evidence timeframe and theories
It was a true pleasure to read. This book is a deep dive that has thoroughly gathered evidence, analyzed it, gone over the background of the case and the Bains as individuals and as a family before the tragedy happened and analyzed all the probable possibilities.
I agree with Martin completely.
Thank you for publishing this, please dont stop with just this book!
It was a true pleasure to read. This book is a deep dive that has thoroughly gathered evidence, analyzed it, gone over the background of the case and the Bains as individuals and as a family before the tragedy happened and analyzed all the probable possibilities.
I agree with Martin completely.
Thank you for publishing this, please dont stop with just this book!
December 9, 2023
A lot of research has gone into this book. Although the author is affiliated with Stuff.co.nz, he presents the information reasonably and in an unbias manner. He includes in his analysis the main points of the investigation, for and against each of David and Robin and lets the reader make up their own mind. I commend him from withholding his opinion until the very end of his conclusion.
January 7, 2021
A very clear, thorough and informed account of the Bain family murders. Disturbing, and an interesting and easy read. Highly recommended!
January 18, 2021
I’m just shook okay like i need people who have read it to talk to so i can just 🤯
August 2, 2021
Not especially well written, and the authors opinion was clear throughout, but it was an interesting read that presented the facts and gave background to the case in full.
August 15, 2021
Fascinating read. Martin Ban Beynen has done a top job of collating the stories and evidences surrounding the Bain family murders.
May 31, 2022
3 ✨
This wasn’t a coherent telling of the story.
This wasn’t a coherent telling of the story.
March 16, 2024
A not-great telling of a fascinating case. The writing is pretty mediocre and it became pretty boring in places, but still a good breakdown of the facts.
May 22, 2021
This just goes to cement what I have always thought and the late great James McNeish also deducted that without doubt David was the perpetrator of this particular crime ...and so intelligently reinterpreted again by Martin in this account.
October 31, 2020
Guilty.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews