Karam was born in Taumarunui to a Lebanese father and an Irish mother. He grew up on the family farm near Raurimu and attended St. Patrick's College, Silverstream.
He is a New Zealand former representative rugby footballer who played for the All Blacks. After retiring from rugby, he became a businessman. However, he is most notable for waging a successful 15-year campaign to have David Bain's convictions for murder overturned, and a subsequent campaign seeking compensation for him.
This book casts strong doubts on the workings of the criminal justice system in New Zealand, and poses the question, "should our criminal justice system be reformed?"