Scott Watson in court fight

Scott Watson. Photo NZ Herald
Scott Watson. Photo NZ Herald
Scott Watson has filed legal proceedings against the Department of Corrections in an attempt to force it to allow a visit from the father of one of the people he was convicted of murdering.

The father of Olivia Hope, Gerald, had sought permission to visit Watson in prison. He was planning the visit with Watson's legal team, and North & South journalist Mike White.

Delays by the Department of Corrections in making a decision on the application to visit Watson led to the legal case being filed.

In the legal papers, he has asked the High Court to require a decision of the Department of Corrections chief executive, Ray Smith.

Mr Smith, in his role, has the responsibility to decide on whether media can visit prisoners.

According to the Watson Statement of Claim, Mr Smith has refused to make a decision on the visit because work on an unrelated application by media could impact on the way all media requests to visit are handled.

Add a Comment