Secret Watson witness vanishes

By ALISON HORWOOD

A secret witness who says he gave false evidence at the Sounds double-murder trial has fled his coastal hideout and is on the run from police.

He left only a note for relatives saying "Goodbye. I love you."

Yesterday, Scott Watson's defence lawyers were also seeking the man, who may be crucial to any bid to reopen the case.

And a top-level police meeting will be held today to discuss the man's claims that his evidence was untrue.

Justice Minister Phil Goff told the Herald last night that Watson's lawyers could pursue a retrial by making an appeal to the Governor-General for prerogative of mercy.

But, first, it was essential that the police follow up the perjury claims.

Police Commissioner Rob Robinson said perjury was a serious matter and inquiries would be made about the conflict between the man's testimony and his public statement.

Mr Robinson and his deputy, Paul Fitzharris, will today discuss options for an inquiry.

"What is important is the truth," Mr Robinson said.

The Weekend Herald revealed on Saturday the man's confession that he lied under oath during the trial last year.

One of 490 witnesses, Witness A shocked the jury with his chilling evidence of how Scott Watson - his short-term cellmate at Christchurch's Addington Prison - showed how he forced Olivia Hope into submission and strangled her.

"The bitch kept fighting back," he said Watson told him. He also testified that Watson was haunted by the deaths of Olivia, aged 17, and Ben Smart, 21.

Last week, the man contacted the Herald because, he said, his lies were affecting his mental wellbeing.

"It's been playing with my mind. I just want the truth out."

He has an extensive criminal record and has suffered mental health problems for 10 years.

Disowning the evidence he gave, he told the Herald Watson did not confess to any involvement in the deaths of Olivia and Ben.

The Blenheim friends disappeared in the Marlborough Sounds on New Year's Day, 1998. Their bodies have never been found.

Watson is serving a life term at Paremoremo Prison for the murders.

During a five-hour interview with the Herald, Witness A spoke of wanting to clear his conscience, but also of his fear of the probable fallout with police.

"The shit's going to hit the fan after this," he said.

"I don't want to go back to jail."

That night, he tried to take his life by swallowing several bottles of prescription pills, but was revived at hospital.

A relative he was staying with told the Herald last night that Witness A disappeared on Friday night.

"I wouldn't have a clue where he has gone, but he thinks the police are after him and he's scared," the man said.

"I just hope he's not in a gutter somewhere."

One of Watson's lawyers, Bruce Davidson, told the Herald that the public recantation had fuelled Watson's hope for a retrial, but only if an affidavit was obtained from Witness A.

Mr Goff said if it was established that Witness A had lied under oath, a prerogative of mercy appeal could be lodged with the Governor-General. The Justice Ministry would then determine whether the fresh evidence had a bearing on Watson's verdict.

If so, it could go to the Court of Appeal, which would decide on a retrial.

Watson's father, Chris Watson, told the Herald his son was "bright eyed and bushy tailed about the development."

He and his wife, Beverly, had dedicated their life to proving their son was innocent and the recantation from Witness A was the best development yet, he said.

Mr and Mrs Watson visited their son at Paremoremo Prison on Saturday, the day the Herald published the story.

The couple found Watson reading the paper with a smile on his face, he said.