BRISBANE, Australia (13 May 2009) — An American man accused of killing his wife on their North Queensland diving honeymoon will appear in the Supreme Court today. David Gabriel Watson, of Alabama, voluntarily returned to Queensland to face trial over wife Tina's 2003 death and was expected to appear in court today. He was arrested at Brisbane airport when his plane landed. Director of Public Prosecutions Tony Moynihan SC confirmed the arrest in a statement today and said Mr Watson was in custody. "I am pleased that Mr Watson has returned voluntarily to Queensland to face trial,'' Mr Moynihan said. "This has avoided the need for a complex and lengthy extradition process. "Given that this matter is now before the court, it would not be appropriate to comment further.'' Watson's wife of 11 days drowned, allegedly killed by her heavily built husband, on their first dive of a 10-day scuba diving expedition on the Great Barrier Reef, off Townsville, in October 2003. Her case and the six-year fight for justice by her parents attracted worldwide media coverage for what was allegedly a brutal crime of passion, or a crime motivated by a modest life-insurance payout. Watson, a bubble-wrap salesman, has since remarried. In February Watson's US lawyer, Bob Austin, said they would vehemently oppose any extradition proceedings brought by Australian prosecutors and described the case as "weak as well-water". In mid-2008, coroner David Glasgow found that it was likely Watson killed his 26-year-old wife by holding her under water and turning off her air supply. Prosecutors late last year filed an indictment in the Townsville Supreme Court against Watson, 31, over the death of his wife. by Leanne Edmistone | 
