Friend tells of Ben and Olivia's kiss

By Eugene Bingham and Alison Horwood

WELLINGTON - Olivia Hope and Ben Smart embraced and kissed several hours before they vanished in the Marlborough Sounds.

And they had once been boyfriend and girlfriend, it was revealed at the Scott Watson double-murder trial yesterday.

It was the first time any romantic link between the two had been aired in public and came after questioning from the trial judge, Justice Heron.

Friends of the Blenheim pair came to the High Court at Wellington to describe their last moments with Olivia, aged 17, and Ben, 21.

A close friend of Ben, Hamish Charles Wilson, told the jury he saw the two of them together in the garden bar around 1.30 am.

Asked by crown counsel Kieran Raftery if they were standing around or dancing, Mr Wilson said: "They were actually kissing."

It is alleged they disappeared some time between 4 and 4.30 am after accepting a bed on Watson's yacht, in Endeavour Inlet.

Another of Ben's friends, Andrew William Pratt, was questioned by Justice Heron about the nature of the pair's relationship.

Justice Heron: Were Ben and Olivia boyfriend and girlfriend?

Mr Pratt: In 1997 they were.

The court also heard how Olivia spent several hours before midnight with Hamish John Rose, a paua diver whose family owned the winery where Olivia and her mother worked.

Mr Rose said he and Olivia met between 5.30 and 6.30 pm and spent about three hours together at the Furneaux Lodge camping ground and elsewhere in the lodge grounds.

"She was pretty bright, and enjoying herself and looking forward to the night," he said.

Between 8.30 and 9.30 pm he went back to the campsite by himself to get changed.

Under cross-examination, Mr Rose said Olivia gave him her watch.

"At that stage she hadn't seen many of her friends and [she gave it to me] to make sure I came back."

They met up again within an hour, and went down to the jetty to inquire about alcohol that had been confiscated from Olivia by security staff earlier in the night.

They returned to the lodge, and walked off to another area of the grounds where there was a helicopter.

Mr Rose and Olivia danced together in the garden bar and parted ways before midnight.

Alice Louise Hyndman, a Dunedin student, saw Olivia early in the evening in a happy mood.

She next saw Olivia about 1 am, in the garden bar with Ben, and noticed that her mood had changed.

"She was not very happy at all," said Miss Hyndman.

Mr Raftery: Was she crying?

Miss Hyndman: No, it was just a feeling.

Earlier in the day, the court heard Ben had started drinking about 10 am on New Year's Eve.

Mr Pratt, who was staying at a Punga Cove bach with Ben, said the group of friends drank beer and later moved on to spirits.

Hilary Fay Asquith, a Christchurch student, said she spoke to Olivia between 7.30 and 8.30 pm.

"She was in a good mood. She had something to drink but she definitely was not drunk."

Angelina Francesca Langham, also of Christchurch, said she met Olivia that night through friends.

"She talked about her past, that she had just sat bursary. I had as well so we had that in common," said Miss Langham.

"She also talked about future plans for the year, how she was going to Otago University. She was very happy."

Dwayne Jeffrey Ternent, of Blenheim, said he and a number of other young people travelled to the lodge on a fizz boat that tied up next to the Tamarack, the yacht chartered by Olivia and her friends.

Many who came on the fizz boat ended up staying on the Tamarack, he said.

Sean William Roche spoke to Ben near the main bar for about half an hour.

"He was just sitting there by himself. I just wished him a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. He was in a reasonably quiet mood."