Accused’s rooms were bugged by police

• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)

Sandy Graham (32) is charged with Mr Watene’s murder at her home in Otautau on April 16, 2020

Graham Hyde (24) is accused of accessory after the fact to murder between April 16 and 27, 2020.

Mr Watene’s body was found buried in a shallow grave in the Longwood Forest near Otautau on May 18, 2020.

At the start of the trial last week, defence lawyer for Graham, Sarah Saunderson-Warner, said Mr Watene had been shot at Graham’s home but it was not done on purpose nor with murderous intent.

Through defence lawyer Fiona Guy Kidd, QC, Hyde also admitted he disposed of the body, but says Graham told him Mr Watene had taken his own life.

The jury trial continued before Justice Gerald Nation in the High Court at Invercargill yesterday.

Officer in charge of Operation Watene, Detective Sergeant Christopher Lucy, said the missing person investigation threw up “slightly unusual aspects to the matter”.

Checks with friends, family, bank transactions and telecommunications showed he had not been seen, spoken to anyone, or bought anything since April 16.

A search by friends and volunteers of local parks and rivers was also unsuccessful.

When police went to his address on April 23, there was no sign of anyone having lived there in days, he said.

“SOCO (scene of crime officers) examined the address and failed to find anything that was untoward.”

A forensic examination carried out at his house between May 6 and 8 also failed to show signs of blood or foul play.

Search warrants were executed which allowed for surveillance of telecommunications...