Murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope

Common card · No. 254920

Ben Smart and Olivia Hope were young New Zealanders who disappeared in the early hours of the morning on New Year's Day, 1 January 1998. The two friends had been celebrating New Year's Eve at Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds with other partygoers. The pair accepted an offer from a stranger to stay aboard his yacht in the early hours of the morning, and it was the last time they were seen alive. The disappearance of the duo sparked one of the most publicised and controversial investigations in New Zealand's history. After a five-month investigation, the police arrested Scott Watson, a resident of Picton. The police were subsequently accused of manipulating the media to make Watson look guilty before they arrested him. Guy Wallace, who was a key witness, was presented with a photo montage that may have led to misidentification of Watson as a possible perpetrator. Scientific controversy, including the possibility of contamination, surrounded the analysis of two hairs found on Watson...

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