An American man who voluntarily returned to Australia to face a murder trial over the death of his wife while scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef has been remanded in custody.
David Gabriel Watson, 32, was arrested on arrival at Brisbane International Airport at about 5am AEST on Wednesday.
Watson's case was briefly mentioned in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Wednesday morning, but he did not appear.
Justice John Byrne ordered Watson be remanded in custody and the matter be adjourned for another mention on May 29.
Watson is accused of killing his wife Christina (Tina) during a Great Barrier Reef scuba dive in October 2003, 11 days into the Alabama couple's honeymoon.
Watson has since remarried in the US, and his lawyers had indicated they were likely to fight his extradition to Australia.
Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions Tony Moynihan said he was pleased Watson had decided to return to Australia to face trial.
"This has avoided the need for a complex and lengthy extradition process," Mr Moynihan said in a statement.
"Given that this matter is now before the court, it would not be appropriate to comment further." In mid-2008 coroner David Glasgow found that it was likely Watson killed his 26-year-old wife by holding her underwater and turning off her air supply.
Tina drowned during a dive expedition to the Yongala wreck, off the coast of Townsville, on October 22, 2003.
