TOWNSVILLE, Australia (4 Nov 2007) — HE'S not coming. American Gabe Watson, the man at the centre of the upcoming coronial inquiry into the unexplained death of his bride Tina four years ago in a diving incident on the Great Barrier Reef, will not travel from the US for the inquest. The disclosure was made yesterday by Mr Watson's barrister Steve Zillman in the Townsville Magistrates Court at the second directions hearing before the coronial inquiry begins on November 19. The inquest, to be overseen by Townsville coroner David Glasgow, has been four years in the making, following the death of Christina `Tina' Mae Watson, 26, on October 22, 2003, just 10 days into her honeymoon while on a reef dive. Mr Watson, a certified rescue diver, said his wife, an inexperienced diver, got into difficulty
during strong currents and panicked, knocking his face mask off and the regulator out of his mouth, and he was unable to bring her to the surface. Alabama police named Mr Watson as a suspect in 2004. After a joint investigation by US and Queensland police, his Hoover, Alabama home was raided in April this year by FBI agents and Queensland detectives, who seized papers, photographs and a computer containing information relating to the diving trip. Townsville solicitor Sam Holt was in court yesterday representing Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, while Townsville barrister Harvey Walters was there on behalf of Tina's parents Tommy and Cindy Thomas. Mr and Mrs Thomas will be in Townsville in mid-November for the two-week inquest. Mr Watson is represented by Brisbane barrister Mr Zillman and Townsville solicitor Rohan Armstrong of Roberts Nehmer McKee. Chief investigating officer on the case, Townsville CIB Detective Sergeant Gary Campbell, was present, while Crown lawyer assisting the coroner, John Tate also spoke in court via a teleconference call from Brisbane. | | Gabe and Tina Watson The next directions hearing is on November 13. Mr Tate said Mr Watson had been requested by the coroner to give evidence, and that he would be given every assistance with air fares and accommodation in order to do so. Mr Zillman said he had been instructed by his client that he would not be attending the inquest, and that at this stage he had yet to clarify whether Mr Watson still intended to give evidence by video link from the United States. Mr Glasgow said the two-week inquest was set to be a significant `logistical exercise', hearing evidence from 65 witnesses from all over the world, some in person but many via video link, with the accompanying conflicts in time zones. SOURCE - Townsville BulletinSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
