Convicted double murderer Scott Watson has been denied parole for a fifth time, with the Parole Board citing unresolved concerns about his attitudes to violence and women, recent prison misconduct, and gaps in his safety planning.
Watson, jailed since 1999 for the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope after they disappeared following a New Year’s Eve party at Furneaux Lodge in 1998, continues to deny responsibility for the killings, a stance the board says limits his rehabilitation.
The board recommended further psychological treatment, a specialist assessment for possible Autism Spectrum Disorder, and revisions to his safety plan before his next hearing in November, noting a 2025 prison assault as evidence of ongoing risk.
While some psychologists said Watson could potentially be managed in the community with a gradual, highly supported release, Corrections opposed parole, arguing he remains an undue risk due to his medium risk of violence, limited insight into his behaviour, and failure to fully address underlying issues.
Whilst I have no fixed opinion opinion either way, I found the evidence given by experienced mariner Guy Wallace to be intriguing and I cannot help wondering if Watson’s post-conviction behaviour is possibly consistent with that of an innocent man exhibiting outrage at his wrongful conviction and the circumstances he now finds himself in.
I agree. Many do.
Ditto!
It wouldn’t be the first the time NZ “justice” system jails the wrong guy and then doubles down.
I remember this case well. Yes lots of unanswered questions surrounding this one.
This is OUTRAGEOUS!
“…attitudes to violence and women….” do we have thought police and attitude prisons?
Again another injustice done by the New Zealand judicial cabal.
Another “corporate state stitch up”.
New Zealand justice.
They want him to admit to committing the crime and then they will set him free.. Fait accompli.
The parole board wants to see remorse. How on earth can anyone be remorseful for a fcrime that was never committed.
He was framed by slime ball Pope.
In the middle of last year the parole board stopped posting decisions on their website. Prior to this, anyone could see who was going to be released, who was declined and the reasoning behind the decisions. I made a request asking why the board had stopped these notifications, but was ignored. I regard notification of these decisions as part of the board’s accountability to the public. (Perhaps they don’t see themselves as accountable?) They would probably contend the anyone can request details of a decision regarding a given individual, but how would anyone know that an inmate is due for parole consideration, or where they are going to be released to. An unsatisfactory situation.
Awesome comment! I encourage you to follow that up and post the result under a fitting new article.
Oh come on, Epstein has a blue denim shirt with a Levi’s tab on it…