Ben Smart & Olivia Hope : The Case That Divided New Zealand

On New Year’s Day 1998, Ben Smart and Olivia Hope disappeared from a Marlborough Sounds boat party and were never seen again. Scott Watson was convicted of their murders despite no bodies ever being found, and the case has remained deeply controversial. This episode revisits how the investigation unfolded, the key points of dispute over evidence and witness accounts, and the ongoing debate over whether justice was served.

Sources:

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/doubt-the-scott-watson-case

https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/doubt-the-scott-watson-case-2016

https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/murder-on-the-blade-2003

https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Olivia-What-Really-Happened-ebook/dp/B00MCYTOGI

https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Silent-evidence-Inside-police-search/dp/1869413865

https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Marlborough_Mystery.html?id=TNkqAAAACAAJ

https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21724557

https://books.google.com/books/about/Trial_by_Trickery.html?id=jhCJtgAACAAJ

https://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Explosive-Watson-Disappearance-Olivia/dp/0994106467

https://www.amazon.com/Elementary-2-0-Unreleased-Police-Evidence/dp/0994106475

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/572644/scott-watson-loses-bid-to-quash-convictions-as-court-rules-he-had-a-fair-trial

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/519245/scott-watson-appeal-forensic-scientist-s-technique-personal-preferences-questioned

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/519697/decision-on-scott-watson-appeal-could-take-months-judge

https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/14/crown-says-watson-is-the-only-one-who-could-have-killed-pair/

https://tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/2024/06/13/scott-watson-appeal-photo-influenced-witness-lawyer-says/

This Week’s Episode Brought To You By:

Boxie - Odor Control Probiotic Cat Litter - 30% off with code LOVEMURDER at boxiecat.com/LOVEMURDER

Find LOVE MURDER online:

Website: lovemurder.love

Instagram: @lovemurderpod

Twitter: @lovemurderpod

Facebook: LoveMrdrPod

TikTok: @LoveMurderPod

Patreon: /LoveMurderPod

Credits: Love Murder is hosted by Jessie Pray and Andie Cassette, researched by Sarah Lynn Robinson and researched and written by Jessie Pray, produced by Nathaniel Whittemore and edited by Kyle Barbour-Hoffman

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.