Rob Pope needs to be investigated

The finding of Olivia’s hair on the blanket after it had already been forensically searched and then rechecked after the police took the hair brush from her home, seems very suspect to me. Plenty of questions have not really been answered properly.

Not the first time the New Zealand police have stitched up an innocent man , the police planted a gun cartridge to help convict A A Thomas of double murder

A lot of witnesses testified they saw the two masted ketch on December 31st. Just because the police couldn't find it, doesn't mean it wasn't there.

How can the mystery man and SW be the same person when the mystery man was drinking bourbons at the bar 2 hours before SW came ashore Witnessed by 3 bar staff GW RMcN and CP

Wishart has forgotten the bullets planted by the police on Authur Allan Thomas, BUT they "DIDN'T" plant "BLOND HAIRS" on Watson's Boat.................YEAH RIGHT

if david bain can get a miscarriage of justice then scott watson should be a shoe in

Who pAID Wishart to say this?? Was Keith Hunter DELUDED? ...........YEAH RIGHT

I struggle with this. There is a picture readily available if you search for it showing Watson partieing with the neigbours he was rafted up to prior to going to the lodge that night. Not as Ian has just described him at all though. He appears clean shaven and his hair appears short and tidy in that picture.

I was told by a CIB Officer at the time that this prosecution, in his opinion, was so shallow on evidence that the CCS should never have brought the case to trial. Wishart you are a disgrace

Bad conviction memories of Arthur Thomas bad policing then suggest the same

Let him go, he didn't do it. They got very good descriptions of the ketch that Ben and Olivia climbed aboard and then they fingered Watson in an incomplete photo-montage, but one look at his boat should have disqualified him from any further involvement in the inquiry. Instead they altered his boat to fit. If you take a boat, remove half of it's rig, half of it's load waterline length and 80% of it's displacement then you've got a different boat, and if you've got a different boat then you've got a different skipper. if you have got a different skipper, then everything that was used to convict him was FALSE! I know the identity of the ketch, and so do the police...

Ian Wishart states that he changed his mind on Scott Watson’s guilt after he read the police file. He then states after reading the police file he saw this “evolution” of witness statements that described the mystery man as a person with a couple of days facial growth and wavy long hair. Hasn’t Ian Wishart just confirmed Scott Watson’s innocence? Is he not aware that Scott Watson's photo of being clean shaven (no facial stubble) and having a short crew cut was taken on the evening of 1 January? Ian used to be considered a professional investigator, but now he sounds worse than an amateur.

What about the photo of him on the night with a whole lot of other people , clearly shortish hair and clean shaven.

Another politicaly motivated verdict?

It's funny the people who were managing the lodge and were there that night has never been interviewed by by journalists

Saw Watson sailing at high speed is quality stuff Ian. He painted the boat blue like the mystery ketch - very sneaky.

Watson was guilty of being drunk and obnoxiously trying his luck with the girls in the bar. People in the bar were telling him to go away. Somebody commented to me... why would the couple go back to that guys boat??? Very unlikely!!

I remember thinking at the time, if it were me being fitted up i would be yelling " ive done nothing wrong, or i'm not guilty " every time i saw a TV camera or crowd of people! I only remember him very quiet!

The evidence against Scott Watson was always thin and questionable, and grows even more dubious, yet he was convicted and remains so.

I repeat my last sentence.... I know the identity of the ketch, and so do the police....

I recall feeling something was very off about this case at the time. Never was able to put a finger on exactly what or why, but it was definitely a very unusual case as the investigation and subsequent prosecution and imprisonment of Watson unfolded over time. Much like the Peter Ellis case it had all the hallmarks of a very tainted investigation. I actually met the chief investigating officer on the Ellis case some years after it, and the things he told me about police conduct in that case were absolutely appalling, not least of which was said officer began a relationship with one of the complainant mothers during the investigation.

I just watched the Mystery Ketch videos and I am blown away at the continual failures in this case. The police involved were blind or involved, there is no other excuse. I hope Watson gets out and gets an apology and a massive payout from the police. Those poor kids, they were let down in the worst way.

I believe Watson is innocent.

Rob Pope, a high flying, high profile police officer, should have his investigation scrutinised. As we all know, high flying police officers will sometimes do anything to get a result and enhance their careers in so doing.

How did Scott Watson overpower and murder two fit young people on his boat off Furneaux Lodge when it was tied up with another pair of boats with minimal privacy of sound and movement?

And from memory the actual guy and his yacht was intercepted by the australian coast guard. The yacht was loaded with drugs The NZ police tried to get access to him the aussie cops said NO

The cut in the evidence bag and then the hairs are found on the blanket after a second examination come on ? and if Ian wishart is putting his 2 cents in well it smells alright.

Another lot of taxpayers money spent of crap

isn't there's a picture of watson taken at furneaux where he's clean shaven with short hair ?

Watch 'the mystery ketch' and the maritime research ....a real eye opener

If Watson didn't do it, who did? Watson is guilty.

What is wrong with this guys voice ?

Scott Watson is INNOCENT!

Why have this interview is it to prejudice SW's appeal. What I have always wondered is why the Police especially Rob Pope did not bother looking for the victims instead concentrated all their efforts on SW. Witnesses had told of seeing this unusal 2 mastered boat with a female on board and they never followed up letting it make its get away. If they had intercepted it before leaving NZ shores B and O may have still been here today and surely this was the most important aspect of this case. If it was indeed the correct boat in so doing they would have had their perpetrator as well if not they could then have concentrated on looking elsewhere. Once again the police show themselves as inept at detective work resorting to criminal actions to close a case.

Wishart should have been able to identify that it is easy for someone to describe an event of being a boat builder but harder to try and grow facial and lengthy head hair within 24 hours. Ian Wishart should concede he has ignored basic evidence and that it is impossible for Scott Watson to have been the mystery man. The case is proven as factual evidence that Scott Watson is innocent and has no connection to being the offender, aka 'the Mystery Man'.

I’m worried. So far the Defence sounds like it’s going over old ground that has already failed Scott Watson several times already, including at the trial itself. They really need to have something new or dynamite. Like just who is the mystery man and what was that ketch?

Some of you keep banging on about the so-called mystery man and mystery ketch. What about the clothes that Watson was wearing seen photographed in on New year's Eve. Those clothes have never been seen since, how do you explain that?! And, Honestly some of you people, I don't get why you believe Guy Wallace? Just because Guy Wallace said he saw something doesn’t mean it’s true; it’s just his opinion. I mean, where is his evidence to prove it was a ketch? He has been so unreliable with his statements. Why would you believe everything he says is true? Not sure if you’re up to speed on why he took his own life? He was about to be exposed on charges of a sexual nature with a young female. As for witnesses, based on his character, he is very unreliable, and I don’t know why so many people take his word and trust it as true.

Wishart is simply wrong

Mike, bringing Ian Wishart onto your program to discuss Scott Watson is just a bad move, plain and simple. Wishart is incompetent.

Wishart’s book “Elementary” has a photo of the boats present. The ketch is not in it, but that’s not to say it was not present at some point that night. Landlubber though I may be, I can tell that if it was there, it would have stuck out like a sore thumb - the only ketch present in all that lot, which were yachts and sloops. And there were other things to make it stand out, like the old-fashioned rope rigging and the brass portholes.

If Scott Watson had nothing to do with that young couples disappearance and probable murder then who was?

I remember it in 1998 I was 15 years old on my grandads boat up in marina. On 8w wing there was a twin mast ketch on our same wing the cops walked up the marina couple of times had a look and took some photos and left seemed to hard too have a look again

I think guy wallace would know but hes passed away now he was the last person to see them alive

Another excellent interview by a thoughtful and enquiring mind. Appreciated.

The ketch is on land northern queenslandon an island used as accommodation go look

Wallace said the mystety ketch was rafted to two other boats. The crown called every single skipper that was there that night to testify. They all said they didnt see the ketch, and it wasnt tied to their boat. Would you notice a large boat tied alongside yours?

Wishart is no David Yallop not by a long shot. May be wannabee one.

Why would we listen to a so-called investigative journalist who has made a dog's dinner of almost every investigation he has ever been involved with? He goes to his publisher for $$$$

Perhaps if You created a scenario where this could have happened instead of where it could not have then Your comment would have some benefit, as it stands this person was on board at 10am Jan 1st so without overworking the brain I have figured He boarded before this, We know Watson departed the bay at 4am (approx) and has not mentioned this man on His boat, this man has also not come forward so by these omissions there has to be a reason behind it, there has to be a reason why this man was painting the boat, He is an accessory after the fact at 10am and My personal view is He was on board when Ben and Olivia arrived which would make Him a co-offender, I stress this to be My personal view and not based on proven fact. Scott Watson was in the company of a man on shore for a period of time but unknown for how long and unnamed but carries a detailed description.

BENT.

If zapper was threatened why would he supply an alibi, he would have been better of with Watson in jail for life

Ian hasn't got a clue. He never had a clue.

No doubt, he is guilty.

Ben & Olivia: What Really Happened: Jayson Rhodes & Ian Wishart page 79 The jeans Watson had been wearing earlier, cut off at the knee, had been replaced by long dark jeans, and a light blue denim shirt with a white t-shirt underneath. Also the stubble that had been visible earlier that afternoon had gone, presumably the result of Watson having a shave. That would explain why Watson appeared clean shaven in the 9:30 pm Mina Cornelia photo. During his testimony in court, Mahoney agreed that the photo showed Watson clean shaven and tidily dressed

Wishart has caused more problems in NZ by his interferences in criminal-justice matters than any other journalist. He should be ashamed of himself

Scott Watson is guilty as sin. There was no mystery Ketch. His sloop was rafted up nose to tail with another with give the appearance of it being a ketch when viewed side on, especially at night.

You tell Lies Ian.

Doggie

Heed my warning team!! Like most folks, I thought Scott Watson was innocent! Then I became a prison guard for about 10 years..... So Unlike some folks that are "Experts " on Watson! I have actual first hand experience with dealing with him, I'm not some ex-crim's "mate of a mates, cousins twice removed, Watson worshipping " person. For the first 2 years of dealing with him.......I still thought he was innocent!! However, After a few incidents happened in the wing he was housed, I came to realise very scarily..... he's very evil!! And I came to believe he's guilty as sin!! Scott Watson is very intelligent and is an absolute MASTER MANIPULATOR!!! And deep under that friendly facade, there is a man as close to the devil as I've ever come across!! ( and I've hunted armed men that guttered pregnant ladies for sport!). Hardened gang enforcers wouldn't cell up with him!! "Old school" Head hunters and Highway 61's have said he's the only man that scares them!! Incidences of Prisoners commiting Suicide or attempting too!! The Last person they were seen or heard talking too..... Scott Watson!!! Theres "rumours" (just rumours) that other people have gone missing in other places where Scott Watson just happened to be sailing at the time! His father appears to be a nice old man, but from Scott's arrest, he's been in everyone's ear, talking to them, turning their beliefs on what they saw or know! That's how the town slowly turned their opinions on what happened! I'd go as far to say... IF I'm wrong! And no ones perfect and gets it right %100..... and Watson is in fact innocent..... he should stay in prison till his death.... cause he's just pure pure Evil!!

If it can be accepted that Ben and Olivia were dropped off at a rafted up boat then this discounts any suggestion that it was a ketch as every boat that was rafted throughout the bay did not have a ketch amongst them, there simply was no ketch in any raft in that bay on the 31st of December. All boats were investigated and had Mum and Dad with their two kids on board, Grandfather His Son and Daughter in law and a couple of Grandchildren on another and so the list goes on to where this eliminates each boat from the inquiry, one boat that could not be eliminated and was in a raft was Watsons Blade, unlike all others it had a lone 26 year old male on board who discarded the clothes He wore on the night, lied about what clothes He was actually wearing, lied as to His movements on Jan 1st, lied as to what time He returned to His boat, lied about His departure time from the bay, got the caretaker at Erie Bay and His Kid's to lie saying He arrived there Jan 1st at 9.30am and stayed for 3 days when in fact He didn't go there at all on Jan 1st, there is more but hopefully this points out clearly that the "Mystery Ketch" does not feature in any way and that the only boat possible to have been involved was the "rafted" up Blade.

the same loonies going on about thomas and bain being "innocent" are also going on about watson being "innocent". wrong. nothing shows any of these are innocent and there is plenty of evidence to show exactly the opposite. somebody does crimes - have some respect for justice for the victims - have confidence in those trained to solve crimes. wishart is 100% right. watson is where he belongs.

Circumstantial nonsense Ian, come on any one in NZ is at risk.

guilty as sin