Graeme Davidson charged with murder four years after wife’s kayak death at Lake Samsonvale

A 55-year-old man has been charged with murder and fraud over the death of his wife northwest of Brisbane in 2020, with the case initially treated as an accidental drowning.

A 55-year-old man has been charged with murder and fraud over the death of his wife, who drowned more than four years ago.

Police said they believe there were a number of “quite extensive” life insurance policies that he tried to claim.

Graeme Davidson, who now lives in Thailand, was arrested on Sunday over the death of Jacqueline Davidson, 54, at Lake Samsonvale northwest of Brisbane in November 2020.

Graeme Davidson has been charged with the murder of his wife Jacqueline Davidson, 54.

His matter was briefly mentioned in Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning.

He made no appearance and was represented by Matthew Ingram from Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Detective Acting Inspector Steve Windsor would not comment on an alleged motive but confirmed life insurance claims into the hundreds of thousands of dollars were taken out.

“The combined life insurance was in excess of $1 million,” Insp Windsor said.

Insp Windsor declined to say when the policies were taken out but said the fraud charge related to money that was allegedly obtained.

“And there was an attempted fraud, a claim was made,” he said.

Scenes from Lake Samsonvale northwest of Brisbane where a woman died in November 2020. A man has been charged with murder.

He said Davidson originally gave police a version of events about his wife’s death and the investigation changed from being non-suspicious during the coronial process, with detectives speaking to a number of experts and witnesses.

He said it was not a straightforward investigation and about 18 months after her death the investigation became a murder case because there were matters that “appeared suspicious”.

“Police are required with all deaths to investigate the matter and satisfy the coroner the matter is not suspicious,” he said.

“In the process of doing that detectives uncovered evidence and matters which needed further investigation which resulted in the arrest yesterday.”

Davidson had been living with his wife at the time but Insp Windsor said police would allege there was “some form of breakdown in the relationship at that time.”

Davidson had been in Thailand for a number of years when the investigation was changed to a murder case.

His online profile states he was a Captain of the British Army and was also a member of the Australian Defence Force.

Insp Windsor said Davidson came back to Australia for “family reasons” before his arrest.

He said investigators had considered trying to extradite him.

Davidson will remain in custody, with the matter to be mentioned again on May 19.

Police initially believed a 54-year-old woman from Warner, who was known to the man, had fallen into the water and drowned in a non-suspicious way while kayaking at Lake Samsonvale near Forgan Cove on November 27, 2020.

Ambulances at Lake Samsonvale when the woman died in November 2020. Picture: 7News Brisbane

Witnesses and emergency services performed CPR but were unable to revive the woman and she was declared dead at the scene.

After protracted coronial investigations, including about conditions of the lake at the time, detectives from the Petrie Criminal Investigation Branch declared the death as suspicious.

The 55-year-old man has been charged with one count each of murder (domestic violence), fraud and attempted fraud.

He was refused police bail and is due to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court today, May 5.

Originally published as Graeme Davidson charged with murder four years after wife’s kayak death at Lake Samsonvale