Loner stood out at lodge party

Scott Watson was a sexual predator, says the Crown. ALISON HORWOOD and EUGENE BINGHAM report.

Scott Watson stood out from the crowd at the Furneaux Lodge.

The High Court at Wellington heard that several hours before Ben Smart and Olivia Hope disappeared without trace, Watson had already established himself as a loner and an aggressive sexual predator.

Crown prosecutor Nicola Crutchley said in her opening yesterday that Watson made a bad impression after rafting his yacht, Blade, to other boats before the New Year's party in the Sounds.

"He was aggressive to two women so that one felt intimidated and one felt uncomfortable. To some of the men Scott Watson was obnoxious."

Miss Crutchley said that by the time the group on the neighbouring boat went ashore they decided to "lose" him.

During celebrations later that night, he became known because of his persistent attempts to chat up women.

"To some women he used direct sexual suggestion. At times his behaviour was aggressive and sometimes his social approach was abrasive."

Twice, men stepped in to rescue women whom Watson had singled out.

In the early morning, he got into a heated debate with a man who was wearing a pearl necklace.

The Crown says that at the end of the evening Watson woke a couple on another boat rafted to his. He said he was looking for a party and made sexually suggestive comments to the woman.

Unlike most party-goers, Watson arrived alone.

"A significant thing is that Scott Watson stood out. He was on his own and not particularly associated with other groups of people there. This is in distinct contrast to other groups at Furneaux.

"Almost all of them were made up of family and friends. Many were young people who had gone to school or university, knew each other through their brothers or sisters, had gone to work together ... in other words, most people attending the party had a network."

One witness recalled a man of about 32 years, with short, brown hair, unkempt and who had been drinking bourbon. Others remembered a man calling himself Scott, or giving personal details such as a plan to sail to Tonga, how he built his boat himself or travelled alone, said Miss Crutchley.

For many, the details of what happened that night were hazy.

"Of all occasions, New Year's Eve in particular is the best time for a person to indulge. Many people at the party had been drinking alcohol and some in large amounts. Many were not wearing watches, indicating time was not important ... it was a time for holidaying and not responsibilities."

However, a fatal accident or intentional disappearance could be ruled out.

Ben and Olivia were responsible young people who had plans for the future and maintained close contact with friends and family. If there had been an accident, one of the pair would have sought help and both would not have disappeared without trace, she said.

"It is the crown case that someone is responsible for killing and also working to avoid detection by disposing of the bodies to break the connection."

The Marlborough Sounds - with their strong tides, changeability and deep waterways - presented the opportunity to dispose of the bodies effectively.

Scott Watson was an effective local sailor, said Miss Crutchley. Evidence from a witness and a photo would show that he left the bay before the sun came up on New Year's Day.

At 9 that morning a family fishing near Marine Head saw a boat matching the description of his, with a bare-chested man on board. He seemed startled to see them and moved off quickly.

He visited a friend at Eerie Bay in the afternoon of January 1, but there were significant periods when his whereabouts were unknown.

"The police investigations also disclose that explanations of Scott Watson of his time at Eerie Bay given to them were false."

He told police that his journey from Furneaux to Eerie Bay was slow because of weed growth on the bottom of Blade, but examinations of the boat and speed tests afterwards proved that this was not the case.

"The real position is that the slow speed claim is not correct."