Hide pushing Watson's case

Scott Watson. Photo / Supplied

The politician who ushered in the hardline three-strikes law is spending his final days in Parliament trying to get convicted double murderer Scott Watson a second shot at justice.

Epsom MP Rodney Hide has made a personal appeal to Justice Minister Simon Power to act quickly on behalf of Watson.

Hide is nearing the end of 15 years in Parliament after being deposed as Act leader.

In that role, he cut a deal to get the National Party to pass tough legislation jailing criminals on their third sexual or violent offence, for the maximum penalty with no parole.

Watson - the man he is defending - was 26 when he was sent to prison in 1999 for the New Year's Eve murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope. Hide had been at the centre of a campaign raising doubts about the fairness of the police investigation and Watson's trial.

An inquiry into the police investigation found substantial flaws which were said to have not had a serious impact on its outcome.

The latest stage in his campaign was an appeal to the Governor-General for mercy - which led Power to order a new inquiry by senior lawyer Kristy McDonald.

The details of the inquiry are secret until revealed by Power, who is about to leave politics for a senior banking job.

"I believe it should go back to the Court of Appeal," said Hide. "This is why we have Parliament and ministers because they do have the ability to over-ride the system when it gets off track. That is what has happened here."

The Herald on Sunday understood McDonald's report placed emphasis on an assumed requirement there be "new evidence" to trigger a referral back to court for Watson - or a pardon.

It is understood the report said there was no new evidence and so the plea for clemency must fail.

However, Hide said any inquiry must go further.

"What's concerned me is the call for new evidence when it was the existing evidence which clears Watson."