Prosecution quizzes boaties to fill gaps

The first of more than 100 boat owners takes the stand in the Watson murder trial, reports Eugene Bingham.

A lengthy process of elimination in which boaties at Endeavour Inlet on New Year's Eve 1997 will be called to account for their time has begun in the High Court at Wellington.

The first of around 112 people whose vessels were tied up outside Furneaux Lodge began a procession through the witness box at the Scott Watson double murder trial yesterday afternoon.

Prosecutors have told the jury they intend showing that police have accounted for the movements of everyone who was at the lodge except Watson, who has denied murdering Ben Smart and Olivia Hope.

Launch owner Samuel George Young told the court he anchored off the lodge with his son and daughter and their partners in the afternoon of December 31, 1997.

Under questioning from crown lawyer Nicola Crutchley, Mr Young was asked to detail the party's movements, including trips ashore.

Finally, he was asked who slept on the yacht.

Miss Crutchley: Were there any extra people on board?

Mr Young: No.

It is a question that will be asked of occupants from each of the more than 100 boats moored off the lodge that night to ascertain whether they had any knowledge of the whereabouts of Ben and Olivia.

Deborah Marie Young, who was on another vessel, said she and five friends were ashore at the lodge, but returned to their boat about 1.30 am.

Soon after arriving back at the boat, they saw lights and heard music on a nearby boat and went "looking for a party."

But they found no party, just a man fishing on his own, and returned to their own vessel.

Earlier in the day, the court heard from the managers of the lodge on the night, Brian and Margaret Beban.

Mr Beban said about 1500 people attended the New Year's Eve celebrations. Most were aged between 18 and 30.

Mr Beban said lights were strung around the lodge, in trees around the grounds, and on the foreshore. Coloured lights were strung around a building near the jetty, and a spotlight was at the end of the jetty.

The lodge also provided a water-taxi service for boat owners in the inlet.

Mrs Beban said about 300 people were still around the lodge at 3.30 am.

Partying had carried on until a fight broke out in the bar.

She had been required to tend to someone whose cheek had been bitten in a brawl outside.

It was 5 am before the bar was cleared.

Jurors watched a video clip Mrs Beban filmed on the night, showing the bar and food service areas set up for the celebrations.

Part of the clip showing staff members singing a song had been censored.

A representative of a Blenheim bank where Watson, Ben Smart and Olivia Hope each held accounts told the court she had been asked to give police a list of their transactions.

Wendy Anne Stretch, of WestpacTrust, said that Ben and Olivia had not touched their accounts since New Year's Day, 1998.

Watson had made Eftpos transactions at a supermarket, a liquor store and the Waikawa Bay marina on New Year's Eve.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Bruce Davidson, Wendy Stretch said Watson had made a $15.84 transaction at Placemakers, Blenheim, on December 18.

Photographic specialists gave evidence about helping police put together images showing the positions of all yachts in the area.

The trial is expected to last three months. Today's evidence will include more boat owners in the inlet, and people describing the movements of boats.