'Honeymoon Killer' Freed: Gabe Watson Afraid of Alabama Homecoming

Nov. 12, 2010— -- An Alabama man known in Australia as the "Honeymoon Killer" was released Thursday after serving an 18-month sentence for the drowning death of his new wife during a scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef.

But Gabe Watson has yet to see an Alabama homecoming.

Watson is at the center of an international battle between Australia and Alabama. He remains in immigration custody until Australian authorities can confirm that he will not face the death penalty in Alabama.

"Australia does not deport people if there is a risk that they will be subject to capital punishment," Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said.

Alabama is a pro-death penalty state.

Australian police said Watson turned off wife Tina's air during a scuba diving trip on their 2003 honeymoon.

Underwater video captured her seemingly lifeless body on the bottom of the ocean.

Because of the complexity of the crime, it took Australian authorities nearly five years to charge Watson with murder in 2008.

"It's been devastating," his wife's mother, Cindy Thomas, said. "You never think your daughter will leave for her honeymoon and her husband will kill her."

At the time of the tragedy, Watson told authorities his wife panicked underwater and he couldn't save her.

But prosecutors said he was an experienced rescue diver with a motive for money; her life insurance policy.

Autopsy results found no pre-existing medical condition that could have explained the women's and tests indicated that there was nothing wrong with her diving gear.

Watson pleaded guilty last year to a reduced charge of manslaughter and served his 18-month sentence in Australia.