Killer behind Watson’s Sounds murder appeal
The man behind Scott Watson’s latest appeal for the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope in the Marlborough Sounds is also a convicted killer.
Brian McDonald, 64, filed a Royal Prerogative of Mercy application on behalf of Watson earlier this month. The appeal includes a detailed report which challenges the ‘‘two hair theory’’ that helped convict Watson in 1999.
McDonald penned the appeal after researching the case, and helped commission the forensic report by scientist Sean Doyle.
The 64-year-old said yesterday he became interested in miscarriages of justice after spending 15 years in prison for two separate offences.
In 1974, McDonald was found guilty of manslaughter after he stabbed a man at a party in Auckland’s Mission Bay.
He served five years in prison before being paroled.
Less than a year later, he was convicted of the murder of a 17-year-old woman who was shot outside a nightclub.
‘‘I certainly regret everything I was involved in. I was in a situation where I was bordering on the underworld. I was involved in a fairly violent scene,’’ he said.
‘‘People ended up getting hurt. I regret it all.’’
While in prison, McDonald met Arthur Allan Thomas, who was serving time for the murders of Harvey and Jeanette Crew.
Meeting Thomas, who later received a royal pardon for the murders, had an impact on his life, McDonald said.
‘‘We met in maximum security. I felt bloody sorry for him. He was a fish out of water. I didn’t like what had happened to him. Years later it was made clear he was an innocent man.
‘‘At one stage he got beaten up. He wasn’t a guy like me with a background in crime. I thought it was shocking.
‘‘Since then, I have always been aware of people who have had miscarriages of justice. Prison is a terrible place. It is bad enough being there if you are guilty, let alone innocent.’’
McDonald now lives in Auckland’s Panmure and is selfemployed. Since his conviction for murder, he has not been back to prison, he said.
Along with lobbying for Watson, he has helped research the controversial convictions of David Bain and Mark Lundy.
‘‘I have been leading a genuine life for almost 30 years. I get involved in these cases because I want to help. I don’t think wanting to help someone has to be conditional on me having a clean record.’’
Scott Watson met McDonald at Rolleston Prison earlier this year to discuss the research he had done in the case.
Watson’s father, Chris Watson, said he and his son were aware of McDonald’s convictions and fully backed the new appeal.
The only physical evidence linking the couple to Watson were two blonde hairs – believed to be Hope’s – found on a blanket on board his home-built sloop following their disappearance.