Night Rider
11-21-2007, 05:32 PM
Updated:14:28, Wednesday November 21, 2007
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1613669.jpg
A couple's holiday snap could hold the key to the mysterious death of a newlywed American tourist.
Mrs Watson's body is circledThe unidentified tourists took the picture while diving in Queensland's Coral Sea in Australia.
It was only after getting the film developed they realised the body of bride Tina Watson could be seen in the background.
Minutes earlier she had been diving with her husband Gabe Watson, a certified rescue diver.
But, under circumstances that are under investigation, she found herself in difficulties and drowned.
Watson claimed his 26-year-old wife panicked in strong currents 80ft below the sea's surface.
But police are probing irregularities in the story.
One inconsistency is that Watson tried to alert nearby divers by grabbing at them.
But divers have told police that was not case.
Police say the picture may go some way to backing up their suspicions.
The holidaymaker pictured appears unaware of the drama as a rescuer, on the left, swims towards the body.
Police say Watson was also unusually slow in raising the alarm.
After his wife's death, he claimed hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation from his travel insurance company.
Police have since told them not to pay after naming him as an official suspect.
He has not been charged and will give evidence at his wife's inquest in Townsville from the US via a videolink.
The inquest is expect to last two weeks and charges could follow if a verdict of 'foul play' is delivered.
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1613669.jpg
A couple's holiday snap could hold the key to the mysterious death of a newlywed American tourist.
Mrs Watson's body is circledThe unidentified tourists took the picture while diving in Queensland's Coral Sea in Australia.
It was only after getting the film developed they realised the body of bride Tina Watson could be seen in the background.
Minutes earlier she had been diving with her husband Gabe Watson, a certified rescue diver.
But, under circumstances that are under investigation, she found herself in difficulties and drowned.
Watson claimed his 26-year-old wife panicked in strong currents 80ft below the sea's surface.
But police are probing irregularities in the story.
One inconsistency is that Watson tried to alert nearby divers by grabbing at them.
But divers have told police that was not case.
Police say the picture may go some way to backing up their suspicions.
The holidaymaker pictured appears unaware of the drama as a rescuer, on the left, swims towards the body.
Police say Watson was also unusually slow in raising the alarm.
After his wife's death, he claimed hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation from his travel insurance company.
Police have since told them not to pay after naming him as an official suspect.
He has not been charged and will give evidence at his wife's inquest in Townsville from the US via a videolink.
The inquest is expect to last two weeks and charges could follow if a verdict of 'foul play' is delivered.