Crown says evidence against Scott Watson remains overwhelming

A two-day Supreme Court hearing has commenced in Wellington to consider whether Scott Watson's convictions for the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope should be quashed. Watson has been in prison for nearly three decades for the 1998 deaths of the two friends, who disappeared after a New Year's Eve party in the Marlborough Sounds. The appeal focuses specifically on whether a miscarriage of justice occurred regarding the admission of eyewitness identification evidence.

Defence lawyers argue that water taxi driver Guy Wallace was "primed" and pressured by police to identify Watson. They contend that Wallace was initially shown a single photograph of Watson in early January 1998 and did not recognise him. However, lawyers claim that police later told Wallace that others had identified Watson as the suspect, and that he was eventually shown a photo montage where Watson appeared to be blinking.

The Crown maintains that the case against Watson is "overwhelming" and that the identification is only one part of the evidence. Crown lawyer Madeleine Laracy argued that even if the montage evidence were removed, the case remains strong. She stated, "If Mr Watson was not the man on the Naiad, then the lone man, like Mr Watson, happened to be alone".

The legal challenge follows a 2025 Court of Appeal decision that upheld Watson's convictions and found no miscarriage of justice. The defence is also challenging the reliability of forensic evidence involving hairs found on Watson's yacht, the Blade.

How it developed

• Wed 21 Oct, 1:39pmThe Crown argued that the case against Watson remains overwhelming even if the photo montage evidence were excluded.
• Wed 21 Oct, 4:00pmThe Crown's closing argument was noted to be almost 100 pages long.

Where reports differ

• Reports differ on the exact number of years Watson has been in prison, citing either 27 or 28 years.

Compiled from reports by The Post, Otago Daily Times, NZ Herald, 1News and RNZ.