Secret witness takes refuge with his family

By ALISON HORWOOD

The secret witness who claims he lied under oath at the Sounds double-murder trial has rejoined his family after two weeks in psychiatric care.

The 32-year-old was admitted to a clinic a few days after telling the Weekend Herald that police pushed him into giving false evidence against Scott Watson.

He was released last night and is staying with family in the North Island.

The man, known as Witness A, told the Herald he had no plans for the future but wanted to "get away from everybody."

He has not been in contact with Watson's lawyers - who see him as central to their bid for a retrial - or the Police Complaints Authority, which is investigating his allegations of police pressure.

One of Watson's lawyers, Bruce Davidson, told the Herald a private investigator working on his behalf hoped to speak to Witness A within the next few days. The investigator hoped to obtain a statement and prepare for a sworn affidavit.

Acting Police Complaints Authority Judge Ian Borrin said: "We certainly hope to have his [Witness A's] input and his contribution. We do regard that as an essential part of the inquiry."

Although the authority had the power to summons Witness A, it was not appropriate, Judge Borrin said. Instead it was prepared to "tread water" until he was ready to talk.

Lawyers for Watson's father, Chris Watson, have sent the authority a letter insisting he is given the chance to take part in the inquiry.

Police came into contact with Witness A this week when officers went to the psychiatric unit to arrest him on unrelated charges.

An arrest warrant had been issued because of his earlier failure to appear in the Napier District Court on a charge of unlawfully taking an $8500 Nissan car.

On Wednesday, he was granted bail on the condition he remain at the psychiatric unit or notify police if he was discharged.

In the meantime, Witness A's family have hired a Bay of Plenty lawyer to look after his needs. The lawyer, understood to be a relative, refused to talk to the Herald, saying only, "Yes, I am representing him and that is all I am prepared to say."

Witness A has a history of mental health problems and an extensive criminal background.

The man, who spent two weeks with Watson in the same cell in Addington Prison in Christchurch, contacted the Weekend Herald this month.

During a five-hour taped interview at a secret location, he claimed that police pressured him into giving damning evidence against Watson.

Despite his testimony, Watson had never admitted being involved in the deaths of Blenheim friends Olivia Hope and Ben Smart. Witness A said he approached the Herald because he wanted to go public about his lies and clear his conscience.

Witness A, one of almost 500 witnesses at the Sounds trial in Wellington last year, shocked the jury by describing Watson's demonstration of how he forced Olivia into submission and strangled her. "The bitch fought back," he said Watson confided in him in prison.

Watson is serving a life sentence.

Herald Online feature: The Sounds murders