Scott Watson to fight ban on meeting with investigative journalist

Scott Watson is seeking a judicial review of the decision to refuse him a meeting with an investigative journalist. Photo / File

Convicted double murderer Scott Watson says after 17 years of silence he now wants the opportunity to speak about his perceived miscarriage of justice.

Watson is seeking a judicial review of a decision by the chief executive of Corrections to refuse him a meeting with North and South reporter Mike White.

He is serving a 17-year jail term for the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope in 1998.

He has maintained he is innocent.

Watson's lawyer Kerry Cook told Justice Rachel Dunningham in the High Court at Christchurch this morning that since his arrest, trial and conviction the public had only heard four words from him.

"'Not guilty', and 'you're wrong', following the jury's verdict of guilty," Mr Cook said.

"He now wishes to talk, and my principal submission is that the chief executive of the Department of Corrections unreasonably stopped New Zealanders from having the opportunity to listen."

Watson had gained hope from the cases of David Bain and Teina Pora, Mr Cook said, and he hoped the public would also lend their support to his claims of a miscarriage of justice.

The public was particularly acute to miscarriages of justice right now, because of such high profile cases, Mr Cook said.

"He wishes to have his case brought forward and assessed on the backdrop of Bain, Pora and others.

"Mr Watson says he's the victim of a miscarriage of justice, and that is what he wishes to be interviewed about."

Watson, who hasn't been seen publicly for many years, sat quietly next to his lawyer dressed in a shirt and tie, and spoke only briefly to determine where to sit.