Ep. 032 | The Murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope
A Trial by Podcast14 Tammi 2025

Ep. 032 | The Murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope

The Murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope: A Controversial Case


In this episode, Kelsey and Emily delve into one of New Zealand's most infamous mysteries—the disappearances of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope on New Year's Eve 1997. The pair vanished after boarding a boat with a mystery man, and despite extensive searches, their bodies were never found. 26-year-old Scott Watson was convicted of their murders based largely on circumstantial evidence and later-discredited witness testimonies, but he has always maintained his innocence.

The episode examines Watson's controversial conviction, the shaky evidence presented at trial, and the ongoing debate about whether the right man was imprisoned. Join the hosts as they navigate through this complex case, questioning the reliability of the evidence and discussing if justice was truly served.

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https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/mr-mischief

License code: MOYK9CTUWGH7BLCS

DISCLAIMER

This podcast (and all related media*) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, we cannot guarantee its completeness or veracity. Our sources are thoroughly researched, and we strive to use credible, publicly available information. However, this podcast should not be considered a definitive or legal authority on the topics discussed.

Much to their parents’ dismay, neither host is a lawyer, journalist, investigator, or any sort of authority figure. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts are personal and should not be taken as fact. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and draw their own conclusions.

This podcast is not intended to harm, slander, or defame any individuals, groups, or organizations. All individuals discussed are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

You can find the list of sources used for each episode on our website, atrialbypodcast.com, within 30 days of the episode publish date.

If you have any questions or concerns about the content, feel free to reach out to our team at atrialbypodcast@gmail.com.

*Related media may include website content, social media posts, TikTok videos (“Unsettling Story Time”), interviews, media appearances, and more.

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