SYDNEY (AFP) — An Australian coroner issued a murder warrant Friday for an American man whose wife drowned in 2003 as the pair were on a scuba diving honeymoon to the Great Barrier Reef.
Coroner David Glasgow issued the warrant and committed Gabe Watson of Alabama to stand trial for killing his wife, Tina Watson, in October 2003 in an apparent bid to secure a large life insurance payout.
The coroner's inquest was told that Gabe Watson, an experienced rescue diver, and his wife of 11 days, a diving novice, were exploring a submerged wreck off the coast of Queensland state when she was killed.
Watson, who refused to appear at the inquest, has previously told police his wife panicked underwater, knocking his regulator out of his mouth as he tried to help her.
He said by the time he surfaced and raised the alarm, his wife had drowned.
Counsel assisting the inquest, John Tate, said Thursday that Watson's account did not stand up.
"There are too many unanswered questions," he said.
One witness told the inquest that the couple appeared to be locked in an embrace about 15 metres (50 feet) below sea level before separating, with Watson heading toward the surface as his wife sank to the ocean floor.
One theory presented to the inquiry was that Watson turned off his wife's air supply then restrained her in a bear hug before turning the air back on when she was dead or nearly dead.
He gave police a number of reasons for leaving his wife behind and surfacing, including that a strong current swept her away, she sank too quickly for him to catch up with her, and ear trouble prevented him from going deeper.
Coroner Glasgow ruled that Tina Watson's death was not caused by vomiting into her breathing regulator, a pre-existing medical condition or panic.
He also rejected an assertion from Watson's lawyer that police had decided early on that his client was guilty and built a case based on that belief.
"I've seen no evidence of that," Glasgow said in a finding posted on the Queensland state coroner's website.
Addressing possible motive, Glasgow said Tina Watson's father Tommy Thomas testified that his daughter told him before her marriage that Watson had asked her to increase her life insurance and make him the beneficiary.
Glasgow said Thomas, an insurance agent, and his daughter decided to tell Watson this had been done, even though it had not.
Glasgow said Watson had also made inquiries to his insurance company about his wife's coverage after her death.
"I am of the view Mr Thomas' evidence would be admissible in criminal proceedings against Gabe and may be such to provide a possible motive," the coroner said.
Tina Watson's parents and other family members watched the proceedings in the Townsville coroners court via videolink from Alabama, hugging and crying when the decision was handed down.
Queensland state police said they would liaise with US authorities over extradition proceedings.
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