Murderer Watson looks forward to married life

Convicted double-murderer Scott Watson and his new bride are very much in love and looking forward to their future together, say Watson's parents.

As revealed exclusively in the Herald yesterday, Watson and 35-year-old Rotorua solo mother of four Coral Phylis Branch were married by a prison padre in a private ceremony on May 28 at Auckland Prison in Paremoremo.

Neither had been married before.

Watson, who turns 33 this month, is part-way through a minimum 17-year sentence for killing Ben Smart and Olivia Hope, who vanished in the Marlborough Sounds on New Year's Day, 1998.

Watson began writing to Ms Branch in late 1999 after being given her name by a mutual friend.

Watson's mother, Bev, told the Herald yesterday that from there "a special friendship" developed and she and her children soon began making fortnightly visits to the prison.

"It wasn't love at first sight, but there was this instant reaction between the two of them. It was more something that developed over time," Bev Watson said.

"But they are now very much in love and I suppose just wanted to get married. I'm sure it will last.

"We are just so pleased he has found some happiness at last. He certainly deserves it. Being married has really lifted his spirits."

Watson, she said, had penned dozens of romantic poems declaring his love for Ms Branch and much of his prison artwork adorned the walls of her Rotorua home.

There was a great deal of trust in the relationship and Ms Branch had remained faithful to Watson since they officially became a couple four-and-a-half years ago, Mrs Watson said.

Watson was relishing parenthood and already his new wife's four children - Robert, Kirsty, Odette and Scott - were calling him Dad.

"They absolutely love him. They're always jumping all over him," she said.

"He has a very special bond with these kids. He'll make a good father."

She and her husband, Chris, were in contact with the new daughter-in-law every second day and they treated her children like their own grandchildren.

Ms Branch was a "sweet girl" and a devoted mother and wife, Mrs Watson said.

The newlyweds were now taking one day at a time and making the best of their situation. They had spoken of starting a family once Watson was out of prison.

The senior Watsons did not attend the wedding ceremony but said they were aware it was happening.

It was difficult to visit their son because of the distance from their home in Picton.

A visit to the prison yesterday was just the fourth since Watson had been in Paremoremo.

Mrs Watson said that in the past her son had never been interested in committing to one person, but he had changed his thinking since meeting Ms Branch.

She did not believe it was "strange" that her son had tied the knot in prison.

People had all sorts of relationships these days, she said, and many of them were successful.

"They probably know each other better than many other couples do," she said.

"They spend all night writing 20 and 30-page letters to each other."

Ms Branch certainly believed in his innocence and was looking forward to the day when her husband's name was cleared.

Chris Watson said his son was "as happy as you can be in storage" and, while a little gaunt, was also looking forward to the day he would be a free man.

Being married had given him a new purpose in life, he said.

Watson supporters, meanwhile, will present a petition to Parliament next week calling for a commission of inquiry into his case.

They believe there were fundamental flaws in the Crown case.

Herald Feature: Sounds murders