The jury in the Scott Watson double murder trial will resume deliberations this morning on whether he is guilty of murdering Olivia Hope and Ben Smart.
Families of the Blenheim friends and Watson maintained a vigil outside the High Court at Wellington as the deliberations stretched into the night.
The jury retired to consider its verdict just before 3 pm on Thursday, after sitting through a trial spanning 13 weeks.
Watson, aged 28, denies murdering Olivia, 17, and Ben, 21, following a 1997 New Year's Eve party in the Marlborough Sounds.
Justice Heron told the jury in his summing-up that the question of identity was central to the case.
About 4.30 pm yesterday, the jury returned to the courtroom with two questions relating to sightings by water taxi driver Guy Wallace and a Furneaux Lodge security guard, Neil Watts. Portions of their evidence were read back by the judge.
Jury adjourns after long consideration
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