Scott Watson in High Court Christchurch in 2015. Photo / Supplied
Scott Watson in High Court Christchurch in 2015. Photo / Supplied
Scott Watson has been denied parole and will have to wait four more years for another shot at freedom because of his risk of violent reoffending.
The Parole Board's decision, made public yesterday, said the convicted double murderer would not be eligible for parole until December 6, 2020.
The 45-year-old is serving a life sentence for the 1998 murders of Ben Smart, 21, and Olivia Hope, 17, in the Marlborough Sounds. Their bodies were never found.
After 18 years in prison, 17 without chance of parole, Watson maintains he never killed nor even met the pair.
But in its decision, the Parole Board said: "The person who committed these crimes was a cold-blooded killer. His victims must have died in terrible circumstances. Mr Watson has been found to be that man beyond reasonable doubt."
Missing couple Ben Smart and Olivia Hope. Photo / Supplied
Changes to the Parole Act, which came into effect in September last year, gave the board the power to postpone an offender's next appearance for up to five years, rather than the previous two-year provision.
Criminologist Greg Newbold said the changes were introduced to stop offenders who had no prospect of parole coming before the board year after year.
"It was unfair on the board that was doing a lot of unnecessary work and the offender who has [been] given false hope.
"It is also hard on the family of the victim who turn up year after year thinking the person might get out ... and the family of the offender who will be thinking they have to find them a job, a place to live and so on."
Newbold said the provision was not used lightly. "If there is no prospect of release in five years then they will use the power. The fact they have given Watson a four-year instead of five-year deferment should be heartening to him."
The board's primary consideration is an offender's likelihood of reoffending, based on psychological reports and the offender's acceptance of guilt.
Watson has the right to apply for earlier reconsideration of parole if he believes his own circumstances have changed significantly.
Watson appeared before the Parole Board in Christchurch on Tuesday last week but its decision was reserved until yesterday.
On a psychopathy checklist, the board noted Watson fell within a group of offenders "who show an elevated rate and speed of recidivism, particularly relative to violence".
An experienced prison officer who has known Watson through most of his sentence said the convicted murderer had two sides -- one that was happy and helpful and another that was very manipulative, withdrawn and untrusting. The board said such traits could take "considerable time to work through".
Watson submitted he did not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community and asked to be released now, but the Parole Board found otherwise.
"We are clear that Mr Watson has considerably more work to do before he will no longer pose an undue risk."
Guy Wallace, the last person to see the young couple alive in his water taxi, said the Parole Board's decision was another failing in a long process of wrongdoings by the justice system.
