Watson not offensive, court hears

By Alison Horwood

Murder accused Scott Watson was not rude and grossly drunk, said a Christchurch boatie who chatted to him at a New Year's Eve party.

Murray Knowles, his wife, Lois, and a friend spent several minutes exchanging pleasantries with Watson at Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds.

Watson is on trial in the High Court at Wellington for killing Blenheim friends Ben Smart, aged 21, and Olivia Hope, 17.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Mike Antunovic, Mr Knowles said he had a "friendly chat" with a man whom he later recognised as Watson.

Mr Knowles was one of nine boaties who gave evidence yesterday about their movements at Endeavour Inlet.

He and his party arrived at Furneaux in their 56ft launch, Kaela Rose, about 4.30 pm on December 31. They moored south of the jetty, and another vessel, Rinker 1, rafted to them.

The boat closest to him was the sloop Blade, belonging to Watson and which police later impounded.

After a barbecue, the party went ashore about 8.30 pm.

During the evening, Mrs Knowles and the friend starting talking to Watson, and Mr Knowles later joined them.

Under questioning he said he subsequently recognised Watson from television, and agreed that he had appeared tidy and clean-shaven on New Year's Eve.

Mr Antunovic: In terms of his demeanour at 11.30 pm when you spoke to him, how did he appear?

Mr Knowles: Happy enough. The same as everyone else.

Mr Antunovic: And not really intoxicated?

Mr Knowles: Not really.

He did not see Watson behaving offensively.

Mr Knowles said he had seen a sketch of the ketch described by water taxi driver Guy Wallace as the boat Ben and Olivia were last seen getting on to with a stranger.

He did not see a boat matching that description during New Year.

Another witness, Gary Baldwin, described himself as a fairly experienced boatie.

Under cross-examination from Mr Antunovic, he said the weather was changeable in the Sounds, and it was possible for yachts to keel over.

The Crown says that after killing Ben and Olivia, Watson meticulously cleaned Blade of any evidence, including wiping the underside of a table and cassette tapes.

Mr Antunovic: If you went inside a boat wearing wet-weather gear, there is potential for that damp to be transferred to the boat in places. Especially on the carpet, sometimes that wet drips off you.

You may have to go inside in your wet weather gear ... to use the radio, consult a chart, check the course, make a hot drink such as coffee or soup. There is also the potential to spill hot drinks in rough weather.

Mr Baldwin: Yes. But you wouldn't make hot drinks in rough weather.

Mr Antunovic: People could get ill and vomit. All of these things need to be cleaned up if they happen. Would you agree?

Mr Baldwin: Yes.

Later, Mr Antunovic asked him to look at a photo which showed the shelf where Watson stored his cassette tapes. Mr Baldwin agreed it was possible they could fall on the floor when the boat was on a lean.

Mr Antunovic: The thing about salt water is that it is sticky if it dries. So do you think it is a good reason in these circumstances to wipe a cassette tape if it got wet and had fallen on the floor?

Mr Baldwin: Yes.

After further questioning from crown prosecutor Nicola Crutchley, Mr Baldwin said it was possible to recognise the signs of a wind change and take precautions to keep the boat upright.

He also said the lip on the shelf would probably prevent the cassettes from landing on the floor.

Earlier Mr Antunovic asked him if equipment such as an axe was needed on a boat in the Sounds.

Mr Baldwin: I don't have one.

Mr Antunovic: What about to get firewood if you were camping?

Mr Baldwin: I suppose it is possible.