Honeymoon killer 'not guilty' plea

The Chronicle - 

Queensland honeymoon killer Gabe Watson has entered a not guilty plea to murder charges brought against him in his home US state of Alabama.

Watson served 18 months in Queensland after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his first wife Tina Watson, who died while scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef during their 2003 honeymoon.

Alabama authorities were not happy with the Queensland sentence and are prosecuting Watson on two murder counts relating to Tina's death, alleging Watson planned the murder in Alabama and was motivated by claiming Tina's life and travel insurance payouts.

The defence says Tina Watson's death in 2003 was a tragic accident, and that Australian authorities botched the investigation.

Watson, during a brief court hearing on Monday in Birmingham, Alabama, entered the not guilty plea to the murder charges.

Circuit Judge Tommy Nail set Watson's trial for May 23. Watson, 33, is free on bond until then.

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