Ep. 032 | The Murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope
In this episode, we discuss one of New Zealand’s most infamous mysteries. On New Year’s Eve, 1997, 21-year-old Ben Smart and 17-year-old celebrated New Year’s Eve at Fernaux Lodge with about 1500 other people. In the early morning hours they were seen boarding a boat with a mystery man, but they have never been seen again since. Despite extensive searches, their bodies were never found. In 1999, 26-year-old Scott Watson was convicted of their murders based largely on circumstantial evidence and witness testimony, including the identification of his yacht, Blade, as the scene of the crime. Watson has maintained his innocence, and the case remains controversial, with many questioning the reliability of the evidence and whether the true perpetrator was caught.
SOURCES:
Generation Why Podcast. (n.d.). Ben Smart & Olivia Hope – Episode 275.
Herald, N. Z. (n.d.). Ben Smart-Olivia Hope murder: The Crown case against Scott Watson.
Herald, N. Z. (n.d.). Distress overcomes Olivia's mother. Retrieved from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/distress-overcomes-olivias-mother/R6BJSUQ3LFH7DPKPY7NN3XCHSQ/
Herald, N. Z. (n.d.). Murder in the Sounds: What really happened to Ben Smart and Olivia Hope?. Retrieved from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/murder-in-the-sounds-what-really-happened-to-ben-smart-and-olivia-hope/GKQRT6G2OUSR2332ATYFK2GJPU/
Herald, N. Z. (n.d.). Sounds murders: Mystery ketch sighting ignored. Retrieved from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/sounds-murders-mystery-ketch-sighting-ignored/45TMOF5CGY6HKFIAJ7QHJ3442I/
Ian Wishart. (2017, December). The Scott Watson case: What really happened to Ben and Olivia? Retrieved from https://ianwishart.com/2017/12/the-scott-watson-case-what-really-happened-to-ben-and-olivia/
Meng-Yee, C., & Savage, J. (n.d.). Chasing Ghosts: Murder in the Sounds [Podcast]. NZME.
North & South Magazine. (2007, December). Sounds of Disquiet (Mike White).
Now to Love. (n.d.). Scott Watson: The interview. Retrieved from https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/news/local-news/scott-watson-the-interview-3462/
O’Donnell, C. (2018, January 3). The case against Scott Watson. Newsroom. Retrieved from https://newsroom.co.nz/2018/01/03/the-case-against-scott-watson/
Otago Daily Times. (n.d.). Two hairs and photo evidence: Scott Watson’s case rests. Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/two-hairs-and-photo-evidence-scott-watsons-case-rests
RNZ News. (n.d.). Ben Smart, Olivia Hope and Scott Watson: A timeline.
Stuff. (2018, January 3). The case against Scott Watson. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/100332218/the-case-against-scott-watson
Vocal Media. (n.d.). The Island Party murders: Uncovering the mystery of Olivia Hope and Ben Smart. Retrieved from https://vocal.media/criminal/the-island-party-murders-uncovering-the-mystery-of-olivia-hope-and-ben-smart
