Scott Watson parole hearing abandoned and will have to be repeated

Friday, 14 March 2025

The Parole Board has been forced to abandon proceedings for convicted double murderer Scott Watson, after a hearing on Wednesday ran out of time, leaving some of those attending unable to speak.

Watson, convicted of murdering Marlborough friends Ben Smart and Olivia Hope at a New Year’s party in the Marlborough Sounds in 1998, spent six hours in front of the Parole Board, during his fifth bid for freedom.

But the hearing became rushed due to the length of time needed to question four psychologists who had varying views on Watson’s risk of re-offending if released.

This meant the board was unable to hear from Watson, his family and supporters, or final submissions from lawyers.

“I don’t want to declare today a waste of time … I’m afraid we under-assessed how long it would take,” board chairman Sir Ron Young admitted at the end of Wednesday’s hearing.

While reconvening the hearing was mooted, this was complicated by the fact Young retires on March 31.

On Thursday, the Parole Board decided it was appropriate to abandon the hearing.

Instead, it will look to hold a completely new two-day hearing when it is able to arrange a time that suits the psychologists and counsel.

Wednesday’s hearing had already been delayed for nearly a year because of various issues.

Watson’s lawyer, Kerry Cook, declined to comment.

However, Watson’s father, Chris Watson, said his son supported having a completely new hearing in front of a new board, even if it meant he stayed longer in prison.

Chris Watson said the delay may mean his son’s lawyer since 2008, Christchurch barrister Cook, is unable to represent him, but that was a risk he was prepared to take in order to have a proper and fair hearing.

He said experts and lawyers were being rushed at Wednesday’s hearing, which meant relevant evidence wasn’t heard, and his son hadn’t received a fair hearing.

“A time constraint on justice is no justice at all, is it.”

Chris Watson had absolutely no doubt his son could be reintegrated safely and peacefully into society, with friends and employers lining up to help.

“There’s lots of people, other than family, who support him.”

But Watson’s continued incarceration was inevitably causing problems.

“Attrition is playing hell with his support group.

“He’s lost his mother, he’s lost his grandparents. I was 78 the day before this hearing.'

Watson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.

Since reaching that time, he has been denied parole four times.

He has now served nearly 27 years - more than half his life - in prison.

Watson has always insisted he is innocent and the case remains one of the country’s most controversial.

The bodies of Hope and Smart have never been found.

Last June, Watson’s second appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal, after his case was sent back to the court by the Governor-General.

The primary grounds were the reliability of identification by key eyewitness Guy Wallace, and the handling and testing of two hairs linked to Olivia Hope, that police say were found on Watson’s yacht.

The Court of Appeal is yet to release its judgment.

The Parole Board has been approached for comment.

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