Scott Watson: New Zealand: Doubts about his guilt persist almost two decades later. 'Stuff" explores the controversial case. Veracity of hair evidence is an issue: "Two hairs, which were "strongly indicative" of having come from Hope, were found on a blanket on Watson's home-built sloop, though the defence raised doubts about the accuracy and reliability of DNA tests.'

STORY: "Explainer: the controversial case of Scott Watson," by John Kirk-Anderson, published by Stuff on November 18, 2105.

SUB-HEADING: "Scott Watson has always maintained his innocence."

GIST: "After 18 years, convicted murderer Scott Watson has given his first media interview - and maintains he had no involvement in the disappearance of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope...Why are there still doubts about the case? Several pieces of evidence from the original trial are disputed:* The two-masted ketch:

Much of the evidence during his trial centred on the boat Smart and Hope were last seen boarding. The Crown argued it was Watson's one-masted yacht, but Wallace maintained it was a two-masted ketch.Wallace had also described a man with lots of stubble and bushy, longish hair, but photographs of Watson on New Year's Eve day show him as clean-shaven with short hair. In 2003, he told a documentary team that Watson was "definitely not" the man he took in his water taxi that night.* Veracity of hair evidence: Two hairs, which were "strongly indicative" of having come from Hope, were found on a blanket on Watson's home-built sloop, though the defence raised doubts about the accuracy and reliability of DNA tests.'

The entire story can be found at:

http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/74123354/explainer-the-controversial-case-of-scott-watson
 
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.
 
I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located  near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site.
 
The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
 
 http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
 
Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
 
http://smithforensic.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html  
I look forward to hearing from readers at:

hlevy15@gmail.com;  Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;

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