Lawyers for murderer Scott Watson will be given the chance to comment on a report on his application for the Royal prerogative of mercy.
Watson was convicted in 1999 of murdering Ben Smart and Olivia Hope, who were last seen boarding a yacht in the Marlborough Sounds on 1 January 1998.
In 2008, he applied for the Royal prerogative of mercy, which provides a special avenue for criminal cases to be re-opened where a person may have been wrongly convicted or sentenced.
A report on that application was completed in March by Kirsty McDonald, QC.
Justice Minister Simon Power says the applicant's lawyers are not normally allowed to read the report, but Watson's lawyers will be and will be able to make comment ahead of a final decision by the Governor-General.
"This is a case that the public have a great deal of interest in, so I want to make sure that any decision or recommendation I make to the Governor-General is as robust and well-researched as possible."
Watson's lead lawyer, Greg King, says he will make no comment before his client's future is decided on.
