The disappearance on New Year's Eve 1997 of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope stunned the nation. The police launched one of their biggest inquiries in recent years. The public was shocked - how could two such bright and happy looking young people simply disappear? And from a traditional New Zealand summer holiday region known for its quiet beauty and charm? As the initial search became a full-scale murder hunt, public disquiet deepened.
With the cooperation of Rob Pope, who headed the police investigation, Goulter has spent months sifting through documents, interviewing, reading police files and reviewing forensic details. In this book he examines how the investigation proceeded, the use of private investigators, the issue of police resources, and the ensuing trial.
