1/ 1/ 98

Hope and Smart disappear.

2/ 1/ 98

Hope and Smart reported missing. Police initiate aerial search by helicopter.

3/ 1/ 98

Flyers are posted in local hotels. EPIRB signal heard by satellite and planes. [Doc 30816] Wallace draws sketch of ketch.

4/ 1/ 98

Amelia Hope describes mystery man as white, slim and quite tall. Late twenties.

5/ 1/ 98

Police call at 55 Hampden St. looking for Scott Watson. Wallace expands on stern of ketch. Sketches stern.

7/ 1/ 98

Christchurch police called in. Pope takes over. Scott Watson attends Picton police station for first interview. Mahony states that Watson returns to boat, alone, at 4:00 am. First statement taken from Amelia Hope. Police seem to avoid requesting description of mystery man.

8/ 1/ 98

Scott Watson attends Picton police station. Second interview. Search warrants issued for Blade, 55 Hampden St. and 15a Hampden St. Pink photograph of Scott Watson taken by police photographer. Walsh’s describe ketch at Furneaux and sighting on 2/ 1/ 98. Morresey describes hair of mystery man as wavy and shoulder length.

9/ 1/ 98

Wallace constructs Identikit of mystery man. It is assumed that Wallace is shown a single photo of Scott Watson on this day. From his 11/ 1/ 98 video interview it can be taken that he was shown this before constructing the identikit. Scott Watson is fingered by Mary Hodren a local police officer [doc 30915] as ‘fitting description totally’

10/ 1/ 98

Hair collected from Hope residence.

11/ 1/ 98

Montage A is constructed. Contains photo taken on 8/ 1/ 98 as number 6. Wallace video interview. Wallace is accused of involvement with missing pair and with Scott Watson. Police focus on Scott Watson. Horseshoe life buoy sighted in Cook Strait by yachtsman and crew. Not retrieved. Police briefing note refers to Wallace being shown montage.

12/ 1/ 98

Scott Watson Interviewed at Picton from 12:30 PM until 8:30pm. Is accused of involvement with missing pair. Sister Sandra interviewed for similar period at Blenheim. Is also accused of involvement. Blade seized and 55 and 15a Hampden St. Searched. Police are committed to course of action. From this date all private searches focus on areas within the area Blade could have been or was seen. [Doc 13282 refers] EPIRB of 3/ 1/ 98 is explained away, although no conclusion is reached.

13/ 1/ 98

Blade examined for fingerprints. Fifteen prints taken from interior. Landreth notes that every hard surface had been thoroughly wiped down. [Doc 10740]. Various hair and fibre samples sent to ESR. Letter from Sandy Watson found beneath mattress of forward berth although this berth is not officially searched until the next day. Poly light examination for hairs and fibers.

14/ 1/ 98

Tiger blanket removed from forward berth (exhibit YA69) Visual inspection of berth reveals one blonde hair on pillow. It could be assumed that Blanket was visually inspected at this time as well. Luminol testing of squabs and interior of Blade. Blood spots consistent with cut foot are found on carpet. No other significant blood found. Ketch is first discounted publicly by police. Scott Watson is named by media as owner of Blade. Police tell news media that Scott Watson is ‘similar to mystery man. Erie Bay caretaker says Watson arrived 10:00 am. Typo in caretaker's daughter’s statement could also say 10:00 am. Son says about lunchtime. Scott Watson gives blood sample and is told by lawyers to leave town. Police have evidence that painting of Blade is planned prior to new year and of cut foot.

15/ 1/ 98

Radford photo is held by police. Fingerprint examination completed. No mention of difficulties caused by cleaning or "wipe marks" in fingerprint officer’s job sheets. At about this time montage A photo of watson is changed for one taken on 12/1/98.

16/ 1/ 98

Tiger blanket (YA69) received at ESR Auckland to be tested for hairs, fibres and blood. Numerous other hairs and fibers also delivered. Landreth finds self-steering wind vane stored under cockpit sole. Assumes it is "hidden".

19/ 1/ 98

Tiger blanket Shaken and tape lifted. 389 hairs of various descriptions collected but neither counted nor classified. Police release map showing positions of sightings of Blade to media. All bar staff of bars and hotels in Picton are canvassed re connection between Scott and Sandy Watson and Guy Wallace. No connection found.

22/1/ 98

Hairs collected from YA69 examined for colour and presence of root material. None are found. Only blonde hairs considered, as Smart’s hair is similar in colour to Watson’s. Effort to isolate hair from Smart nil.

26/ 1/ 98

Pope refuses to discuss whether Blade had anchor aboard when seized although news photos plainly show this.

27/1/ 98

YA69 returned to Blenheim.

28/ 1/ 98

Shakespeare Bay Sludge pond drained and searched. Media reports that friends of Scott Watson have been invited to implicate him in drug dealing by police. Hair samples from YA69 screened for blonde hairs. None are found.

30/ 1/ 98

Criticism of police handling of investigation by ex police officers.

3/ 2/ 98

Wallace and Furneaux bar staff view TV1 video of Scott Watson and say that he is not the mystery man. Minister of Police becomes involved.

5/ 2/ 98

Police defend cost of inquiry and other criticisms. Case becomes political with entrance of Elder, Doone et al. Suspect profile of Scott Watson is distributed during briefing for private search.

6/ 2/ 98

Anderson states that he took a lone male to a vessel referred to as Blade. 2:30 to 3:00 am. Describes Watson and Blade. Identifies Blade from photograph. Says photo 6 in montage A (Watson) is closest to appearance of man taken to Blade. Massive private search undertaken. Focus on areas that Watson has been seen in or could have traveled to.

8/ 2/ 98

Morresey describes boat. Mostly confirming Wallace’s description.

9/ 2/ 98

ESR scientist Wilson returns to Blenheim examines deck area of Blade for hairs and fibres. Also Luminol test of deck and dinghy.

10/ 2/ 98

Amelia Hope first describes receding hairline of mystery man.

13/ 2/ 98

Cleaning theory floated by Landreth. Wording of this job sheet turns every action into a sinister act. Conclusions drawn regarding wind vane being hidden and squab covers. Suggests that Blade was painted while at sea.

19/ 2/98

Blade returned to water for ‘further testing’. Statements of important witnesses begin to change.

21/ 2/ 98

Landreth measures freeboard of Blade and Furneaux Lodge Naiad. Finds difference of 16 cm. High level of publicity.

24/ 2/ 98

Police first seek to obtain Watson’s presence at identification parade. Will not provide details of who is to view parade.

2/ 3/ 98

Watson’s girlfriend inspects Blade with police at Picton. Is recruited by police and reports conversations and movements from this point. Reconstruction of Naiad voyage with Moressey. Attempt to ‘reason’ with Moressey. Says Blade is not as high as ketch. [Doc 20829]

4/ 3/ 98

Statement taken from Gay senior re boat seen in Cook Strait on 1/ 1/ 98. Identifies Blade from two photos of same boat.

5/ 3/ 98

Anderson states that trip to Blade could have been as late as 4:00 am. Gay junior gives statement re boat seen in Cook Strait on 1/ 1/ 98. Shown two photos of Blade. Both Gay’s living at same address.

6/ 3/ 98

Forward hatch removed from Blade. It is first recorded that Wallace has drawn sketch of ketch on 3/ 1/ 98.

7/ 3/ 98

STO5 hair samples examined. YA69 hair samples reexamined and two hairs YA69/12 and YA69/13 found.

10/ 3/ 98

Caretaker’s daughter interviewed in Matamata. Changes statement. Arrival time now 5:00 pm, Son (9yrs) changes time to 3:00 pm.

11/ 3/ 98

Picton dump searched for hair.

12/ 3/ 98

Erie Bay caretaker attends court re cannabis charge. Interviewed pre hearing, Remembers Scott Watson arriving at about 5:00 pm 1/ 1/ 98

20/ 3/ 98

Blade returned to Shakespeare Bay mooring complete with listening devices. Police state that it has been returned to its owner and that they have no further interest in it. McNeilly states photo 3 montage B is most like man in bar but needs more beard and hair.

26/ 3/ 98

Local junkies and pharmacist interviewed re Scott Watson. Unknown to these people.

7/ 4/ 98

YA69 (blanket) returned to Auckland ESR lab to be tested for saliva.

10/ 4/ 98

Blade removed to Lyttleton by Watson family.

14/ 4/ 98

Bedding ex 55 Hampden St. sent to ESR Auckland. Test is for hairs, blood and saliva.

20/ 4/ 98

Wallace non-identification occurs at Blenheim police station. States that eyes of photo 3 are similar but needs more hair and beard.

24/ 3/ 98

Police tell media that they are not investigating any other boats. No other boats have at this stage been searched in the manner of Blade.

21/ 4/ 98

Bruce Davidson replies to letter from police dated 10/ 4/ 98 requesting Scott’s attendance at an identification parade. Details reasons for refusal and points out failures of police to cooperate. [Doc 40870] Statement re vessel Dausoko says arrived at Tory entrance 5:00 pm 1/ 1/ 98 from Wellington. Police profile of boat says 2:00 pm.

1/ 5/ 98

Two blue denim shirts sent to ESR for comparison with Photo’s Reference to a third denim shirt by Watson’s girlfriend. Amelia Hope shown Montage B says hair of photo 1 is similar to that of mystery man when pressed.

5/ 5/ 98

Deep-water search begins in area near Marine Head. This search is based on statements from the family Edwards. [Doc.11260] the progression of these statements is of interest.

13/ 5/ 98

Erie Bay caretaker given suspended sentence. Charged with growing cannabis for supply (200 plants).

16/ 5/ 98

Conclusion of deep-water search with recovery of Outward Bound sail. Equipment for this search includes body bags. There is no mention of information other than Edward’s statements to justify a decision to search this area.

5/ 6/ 98

Sample of foam sent to ESR, testing of hatch begins.

15/ 6/ 98

Scott Watson is arrested and charged with murder x 2. Fitzgerald’s tape recorder chances to fail allowing verbaling of arrest. Search warrants executed on Blade, East Belt, Rangiora, and 15a and 55 Hampden St. Picton. Also vessel Circe. Blade retaken. Paint stained squabs from under bridge deck are photographed and sent to ESR for testing. Paint absorption of foam fond to be consistent with depth of cut in settee squab.

28/ 6/ 98

Phantom can thrower attacks Scott Watson in court appearance. Is fined $400. It is revealed that he is ex police officer. He later commits suicide.

24/ 7/ 98

Watson allegedly confesses involvement to prison witness K while at Addington prison.

7/ 98

Watson allegedly confesses involvement to prison witness J [A] while at Addington prison.

3/ 9/ 98

Sir Thomas Fry interviewed re ownership of ‘Lonebird’.

25/ 3/ 99

First mention of source of montage photographs taken 12/ 1/ 98 by Fitzgerald.

29/ 3/ 99

Blade examined by defence. Scratch marks on hatch found to extend past coming. Gummer finds ten marks cannot be made with hatch closed.

25/ 5/ 99

Defense advised verbally that crown intends to call secret witness A. No documentation supplied.

11/ 6/99

ESR finally counts and categorises hairs from YA69.

14/ 6/ 99

Trial begins.

11/ 9/ 99

Jury returns guilty verdict. Prime minister Shiply calls Hopes to "congratulate" them.

7/10/ 99

Scott Watson due to appear re non-parole period. Bruce Davidson requests adjournment as crown law submissions had only arrived at his office at 5:30 pm the evening before. Hearing is set down for 26/11/99.

26/ 11/ 99

Scott Watson awarded 17-year non-parole period. Labeled "psychopath" by Heron J. Sentence to reflect age of Hope. Smart once again neglected.

27/ 11/ 99

General election.

1/ 2/ 00

Sir Thomas Fry arrested in Australia attempting to import some $200 million (NZ) worth of cocaine. Vessel used is Ngaire Wha, a ketch. Reports quote police as having been involved in operation for, variously, 18 months or two years.

7/ 00

Navy undertakes underwater search of area of Cook Strait for police. Statements of Gay senior and junior are the only apparent Justification for this search.

3/ 11/ 00

Secret witness A recants and accuses police of fabricating his statement. Police refer to PCA "Cannot comment as incident is under investigation.

27/ 11/ 00

NcNeilly provides sworn statement that Watson was not man at Furneaux Lodge Bar.

17/ 3/ 01

Christopher Greig arrested for murder of Keri Stephens in Nelson. Was reported to police as suspect in Hope/ Smart case 9/ 1/ 98.

26/ 3/ 01

Defense continues to await disclosure of Cook Strait search result.

30/ 3/ 01

Graeme O’Brian acquitted of receiving at second trial. Relates to Securitas robbery in Blenheim. Secret witness B is involved in this case as a secret witness. Information via courthouse cell wall.