Families upset by documentary on Sounds murders

A documentary to screen tonight claiming convicted Marlborough Sounds murderer Scott Watson did not kill Blenheim friends Ben Smart and Olivia Hope has upset the victims' families.

On New Year's Eve 1997, Ben, 21, and Olivia, 17, had been celebrating at Furneaux Lodge when they boarded a yacht early that morning.

They were never seen again.

Picton man Watson, who had sailed to the lodge on his sloop Blade, was convicted of their murders and jailed for a minimum of 17 years.

Murder on the Blade - a 90-minute documentary by veteran TV journalist Keith Hunter, to be shown at 7.30pm on TV One - concludes the pair were murdered by another man.

Hunter says a mystery ketch described by witnesses but discounted by police did exist and was used in the killings.

"I think it's fairly clear Watson didn't do it and there were a number of errors throughout the process. I think it was an injustice and I want to draw attention to it," Hunter said.

He had not spoken to Watson, the Hopes, Smarts or the inquiry head, but instead had re-created the trial and focused on sightings by witnesses.

Ben's father, John Smart, said anyone who sat through the trial of Watson was left in no doubt as to his guilt.

"The documentary is based on the beliefs of people who have doubts about the court case.

"They have doubts but we have no doubts. The people that come up with these theories have not been through the whole court case and investigation," Mr Smart said.

Olivia's father, Gerald Hope, said earlier that he did not expect anything new from the documentary.

"You have to look at the big picture and not just selected pieces of evidence to decide whether Watson's guilty or not," he said.

"We would like to have something other than speculation."

Mr Hope said he did not wish to make further comment until he had seen the documentary.

Meanwhile Mr Smart said he was not surprised that the Privy Council has rejected a bid to hear a fresh appeal in the case - but was was surprised it had made it that far.

"It is up to the judges to make a decision but to our minds it is clear cut," Mr Smart said.

"The jury heard the whole case.

"Most of the people who attended the trial think he is guilty, so there are no grounds for further appeal as far as we can see."

He said the Privy Council's decision showed there was no new evidence that could change the decision made by the jury at the time.

Herald Feature: Sounds murders