Watson knew arrest at hand: police

By Alison Horwood and Eugene Bingham

WELLINGTON - Scott Watson allegedly uttered just two words when police arrived to arrest him: "About time."

Detective Tom Fitzgerald told the double-murder trial yesterday that Watson made the comment when he came across him in the hallway of his brother's house in Rangiora on June 15 last year.

Watson said ".... off" when asked to come to the Rangiora police station to talk about New Year's Eve, 1997.

"We then arrested Mr Watson for the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope and read him his rights," said Detective Fitzgerald.

After talking to his lawyer by phone, Watson was taken to the police station to be questioned on video about several issues, including the cleaning of his boat, the missing squab covers, the scratches on the forward hatch and the hairs on a blanket.

Detective Fitzgerald said it became obvious that Watson had nothing to say. "He declined to answer."

He was driven to Christchurch and formally charged with the murders.

Earlier in his evidence, Detective Fitzgerald said Watson had been reluctant to sign a statement on January 12 "because it made him look bad."

He signed it after Detective Fitzgerald said he should if it was an accurate account.

Watson had said he was wearing a T-shirt and a grey jersey on New Year's Eve. He returned to Blade about 2 am and was the only occupant of a water taxi driven by an older man in a cap.

He denied knowing Guy Wallace, the water taxi driver the Crown says dropped Watson at his boat with Olivia and Ben.

Watson had said he left Endeavour Inlet about 6.30 or 7 am on January 1 and arrived at Eerie Bay in Tory Channel about 10.30 am, Detective Fitzgerald said.

The Crown says Watson lied in his statements and several hours of his time are unaccounted for.

Detective Fitzgerald asked Watson whether he had ever met Olivia or Ben.

"He replied that he had never seen or spoken to either of them that night, but he would remember talking to Olivia."

When asked by crown prosecutor Kieran Raftery why Watson would make that comment, Detective Fitzgerald said: "It was obviously a reference to her being an attractive woman."

When Detective Fitzgerald asked Watson about his obnoxious behaviour towards women at Furneaux Lodge, he replied: "I was just trying to score. What's wrong with that. It was New Year's Eve."

He also said, "You can take my ... boat. There's no blood on it."

On April 7, 1998, Detective Fitzgerald visited Watson at the home of a family friend. He talked to him later at the Huntly police station.

He told Watson that he understood he was having sleeping problems.

"You are only going to get worse until you get things off your chest, mate," the policeman said.

Watson replied: "No, I'm fine, mate."

The friend he stayed with, whose name was suppressed, said Watson moved out of the house and into a sleepout after being told he was screaming in his sleep.

In explanation, Watson told him he often did that when he was tired.