A bid for compensation is gaining momentum for a Hawke's Bay man who spent 18 months in prison awaiting a murder trial that was thrown out on its first day.
Lawyers for Zion King are trying to secure a payout of at least $100,000 on grounds including malicious prosecution.
Mr King had been accused of killing his neighbour in January 2008.
The case was thrown out because of flimsy evidence.
The 50-year-old says he has emerged with no job, large debt and post-traumatic stress disorder, and his time in custody has broken him.
Mr King's case is outside the Cabinet guidelines for a payment, but lawyer his lawyer, Peter Williams QC, argues the Crown should compensate him on moral grounds.