A parole hearing for Scott Watson – who is serving a life sentence for murdering two people in the Marlborough Sounds in 1998 – has heard of his role in prison violence deemed "very serious".
The 54-year-old has been in prison for nearly three decades after he was convicted of killing Ben Smart and Olivia Hope, who were last seen in the early hours of January 1, 1998.
Their bodies have never been found, and Watson has always maintained his innocence.
On Friday, Watson wore his grey prison uniform and sat with his hands crossed in his lap as he appeared for his seventh Parole Board hearing.
A small group of media were given a video link to watch the hearing.
Clinical psychologists, lawyers, and Watson himself discussed his behaviour in prison, his beliefs, and potential risks if released back into society.
The hearing started with CCTV from 2024 of what Watson described as a playfight in prison with one of his good mates.
It showed Watson going behind another inmate and putting him in a headlock, causing both of them to stumble around for a bit. A third party then appeared to come up and punch the man who Watson had in a headlock.
The interaction was a big focus of the hearing, with the Parole Board panel concluding the CCTV footage appeared to be "very serious violence, and not a regular playfight".
"I think there’s something in me that self-sabotages," Watson said.
A clinical psychologist noted a risk that Watson self-sabotaged due to "hopelessness" that he would never get out of prison.
Another clinical psychologist said Watson had idiosyncrasies that got him into trouble, caused difficulties, and people were unable to relate to him.
A separate prison incident was also discussed, involving an assault on a female corrections worker. It did not involve Watson but he later told the worker he was sorry it happened to her, and wished it had happened to someone else, and named that person.
One of the clinical psychologists noted that an underlying belief of condoning violence was still present for Watson, but that attitude was shaped by the environment, and it was difficult to distinguish if that belief was situational or environmental.
Another clinical psychologist said this was a socially awkward way at trying to connect with someone, but Watson did not recognise that it was inappropriate.
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Watson’s lawyer said the Parole Board hearing felt "very, very different" from previous hearings with the number of questions being asked and it gave them "hope".
Watson’s parole was declined, but he would be seen again in 10 months’ time.
The board wanted Watson to undertake further treatment on his attitudes to violence, have an Autism Spectrum Disorder assessment, and work on his safety plan.
"You need to stay out of trouble we need to see that you can do that," Parole Board chairwoman Jan-Marie Doogue said.
Once Watson did what the panel had requested, then it would consider looking at the first phase of reintegration opportunities.
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