By Samantha Hayes
A man dubbed the "honeymoon killer" has begun a new trial in the US for murder, despite already serving an 18 month sentence for manslaughter in Australia.
Gabe Watson is accused of drowning his new bride, Tina Thomas, while scuba diving in 2003.
Gabe Watson's Alabama murder trial began on a significant day for the victim's family.
"And this has been a very emotional day for us as you might imagine. Thirty-five years ago today at 1.32 in the morning Tina was born. And her mother of course has not been doing real well," says Mr Thomas, the victim’s father.
Tina Thomas's family want a jury to decide if Watson murdered their daughter on a scuba diving trip in Queensland eight years ago.
But of the 69 potential jurors called up, only 11 said they had not heard of the high profile case.
One told the judge she thought Watson was guilty because he had taken out life insurance beforehand.
Watson was dubbed the honeymoon killer after pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter in 2009.
Prosecuters in Alabama will argue he deliberately killed Thomas to claim hundreds of thousands of dollars from her life insurance, which he had asked her to increase only weeks before the wedding.
The experienced diver admitted he did not do enough to save his wife of 11 days from drowning when she panicked underwater, but the prosecution alleges he turned off her oxygen while giving her a bear hug underwater.
One charge of murder by kidnapping was dropped today.
"it is just a strategic move to simplify the case," said lead prosecutor Don Valeska
The defence will argue the drowning was a tragic accident.
Jury selection will continue tomorrow.
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