A Canadian judge has been appointed to assess David Bain's claim for wrongful conviction and imprisonment.
Bain's lawyer's notified Justice Minister Simon Power last year of his intention to claim compensation and was seeking legal aid.
He has now decided to proceed with the claim without legal aid.
Bain was acquitted of murdering his Dunedin family following a three month trial at the Christchurch High Court in 2009.
He served 13 years in prison for the alleged murders of four of his family after being found guilty in 1995.
In 2007, the Privy Council quashed his convictions on the grounds of a substantial miscarriage of justice and ordered a retrial.
Power announced today the appointment of Justice Ian Binnie, a retired Canadian Supreme Court Judge.
"Due to the long-running and high-profile nature of the case, and after consultation with Mr Bain's lawyers, it was decided a judge from outside New Zealand would be appointed," Power said.
Binnie was a Queen's Counsel (Ontario) in 1979 and served as the Canadian Associate Deputy Minister of Justice from 1982 to 1986. He has served on the Supreme Court of Canada for more than 13 years.
Power said that Canada has a compensation regime with similarities to New Zealand's.
"Justice Binnie's appointment is a significant step in attempting to resolve Mr Bain's claim for compensation and a step towards achieving finality in this case."
Bain's lawyers wrote to Power in March last year notifying him of a claim for compensation.
Power instructed officials to work with Bain's lawyers to devise a workable process for the assessment of his claim.
However, this engagement was limited while Bain focused on seeking legal aid.
At the end of August this year, Bain advised that he wanted to proceed with his claim without legal aid, allowing for decisions to be made about the appropriate process for assessing his claim.
Power said Bain's claim for compensation fell outside existing Cabinet guidelines because he was acquitted following a retrial.
