Atmosphere on sloop awes jurors

By Alison Horwood

PICTON - Jurors fell silent yesterday as they took turns to run their hands over deep scratches Olivia Hope allegedly made inside the yacht Blade.

Against a backdrop of startling blue sky at Waikawa Marina, in Picton, the 12 jurors huddled in groups as they looked over the 8.6m sloop Scott Watson built in his parents' backyard.

They became quiet as they trooped in threes on to the yacht that Olivia, aged 17, and Ben Smart, 21, were allegedly seen boarding before they disappeared in the early hours of New Year's Day, 1998.

Inside the cramped cabin, the jurors were encouraged by defence and prosecution lawyers to open cupboards, look at latches, inspect the sleeping areas and forage in the cutlery drawer.

Most moved quickly through the steel hull to touch the rubber hatch-lining near the bow that was raked with scratches.

Many stood on the bed below and poked their heads through the hatch into the icy air to look towards the marina.

The jury, legal teams and Justice Heron have left the High Court at Wellington for two days in Picton and the Marlborough Sounds to see sites and objects of importance to the trial.

The group arrived at Woodbourne Airport in Blenheim in a chartered aircraft and were taken by bus to Shakespeare Bay, where Watson lived on Blade, before boarding the bus again to view the sloop.

Watson, who turns 28 today, has denied murdering Olivia and Ben in the Marlborough Sounds on or about New Year's Day.

His trial enters its third week today.

Prosecutor Paul Davison, QC, told the jury Blade had been restored to the condition it was in when police hauled it from the water and impounded it on January 12.

Only the cassette tapes, VHF radio and tiger-motif blanket that the Crown claims contained two of Olivia Hope's blond hairs have not been replaced.

Once again, Blade is sporting a new paint job of white with a reddish trim because Watson's family changed its appearance after it was released by police.

Mr Davison told the jurors to take particular note of the scratches on the hatch, and the squabs, which have pieces of foam missing.

He also asked them to note the shelf where the cassette tapes were stored and the nylon cord used to secure the hatch from inside.

Defence counsel Mike Antunovic reminded jurors to check the contents of the cutlery drawer and note that the squabs could be lifted and removed.

He told them to look at the position of the scratch-marks when the forward hatch was firmly in place.

Mr Antunovic pointed out that there were no interior doors and asked jurors to look at the marks on the main hatch and compass cover.

The jury will today tour Furneaux Lodge and be taken by boat around the sounds and Tory Channel.