Victim's family plea on honeymoon killer

US domestic politics is driving Queensland's refusal to hand over evidence that convicted Gabe Watson for killing his wife.

US domestic politics is driving Queensland's refusal to hand over evidence that convicted Gabe Watson for killing his wife.

The father of Watson's late bride, Tina, who died on her honeymoon on the Great Barrier Reef, yesterday renewed the family's plea for Queensland to co-operate so Watson can be prosecuted in the US after his anticipated release from jail in Brisbane later this year.

Having struck a deal with local prosecutors, Watson pleaded guilty to Tina's manslaughter during a scuba dive off Townsville in 2003. He had failed to go to her aid when she sank to the sea floor and died.

Amid outrage in the US at the claimed leniency of his sentence, ultimately set at an effective 18 months' jail, Alabama Attorney-General Troy King directly approached Queensland to release police files and forensic evidence with a view to prosecuting him for murder.

Queensland refused to comply, however, because Alabama reserved the right to seek the death penalty against Watson.

Mr King subsequently gave an assurance that this would be taken off the table if Watson was charged and convicted of murder under Alabama law.

Tina's father, Tommy Thomas, yesterday said Alabama prosecutors were still waiting for key evidence from Queensland so they could prepare the case. "The Attorney-General over here has done everything he can to accommodate the Queensland government's request," Mr Thomas told ABC Radio. "He's removed the death penalty . . . and said he would pursue nothing greater than life in prison without parole."

The Australian understands the problem from the Queensland end is a belief it cannot rely on Mr King's assurance since he has been dumped by his Republican Party as candidate for Alabama attorney-general in elections in November, at about the time of Watson's scheduled release.

A spokesman for Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick said 9000 pages of court transcripts and publicly-available material from the Coroner had already been forwarded at Mr King's request.

If normal processes apply, Watson's Australian visa will be cancelled on his release from prison and he will be deported, almost certainly to the US.