Long journey to justice for Lin family

2009

July 17 - Members of the extended Lin family get together for their regular Friday night dinner at the home of grandparents Yang Fei Lin and Feng Qin Zhu

July 18 - The battered bodies of newsagent Min Lin, 45; his wife Lily Lin, 43; their sons Henry 12, and Terry, nine; and Lily's sister Irene, 39 are found in their North Epping home

July 29 - Min's sister Kathy Lin and her husband Robert Xie make an emotional plea for public help in solving the crimes

2011

May 5 - Robert Xie is charged with the murders

2012

December 19 - Xie committed to stand trial

2014

May 9 - NSW Supreme Court trial starts before Justice Peter Johnson

June 10 - Jury discharged for legal reasons

August 5 - Second trial starts

September 23 - Jury discharged because of ill-health of Justice Johnson

2015

February - Third trial starts before Justice Elizabeth Fullerton

November 12 - Jury begins deliberations

December 1 - Jury discharged after failing to reach verdict

December 11 - Xie released from prison on bail after spending almost five years behind bars without a conviction

2016

June 29 - Fourth trial starts before Justice Fullerton

Dec 23 - Xie's bail revoked before imminent retirement of the jury

Dec 30 - Jury begins deliberations

2017

Jan 12 - Xie found guilty of murdering five members of the Lin family.