Decision soon on Watson's pardon bid

Scott Watson during the original court action in 1998. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A decision on Scott Watson's final bid for freedom draws closer after his lawyers responded to a Government-ordered report into claims of a miscarriage of justice.

The inquiry was sparked when Watson, who was convicted of murdering Ben Smart and Olivia Hope, wrote to Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand in 2008 seeking a pardon or retrial.

The pair were last seen boarding a yacht in the Marlborough Sounds early on New Year's Day 1998. Their bodies have never been found.

Watson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years, and his appeals against the convictions have failed.

But his application for a pardon under the royal prerogative of mercy led to the Ministry of Justice appointing Kristy McDonald, QC, to review the evidence.

She filed her report - which took two years and cost $143,000 to complete- to Justice Minister Simon Power in March.

He in turn agreed to give Watson's new legal team, led by high-profile defence lawyer Greg King, a chance to comment on the findings.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Mr Power confirmed that Watson's team had filed a response, which was forwarded to Ms McDonald.

He said Mr Power indicated that a decision on Watson's freedom would be made before the general election in November.

Two key Crown witnesses witnesses the QC reinterviewed were Rozlyn McNeilly and Guy Wallace, who have both said police tricked them into identifying Watson.