A former British Army Major has been charged with murdering his wife more than four years after she died during a kayaking trip in Australia.
Graeme Davidson, 55, was charged with murder, domestic violence, fraud and attempted fraud, with police alleging he killed his wife and tried to claim more than $1million AUD (£483,000) in life insurance policies after she died.
Video showed the moment the officer from Glasgow was arrested at a property in Brisbane, Australia on Monday, while visiting from his current address in Thailand, where he moved after his wife’s death.
Jacqueline Davidson, 54, was reported to have died after falling into the water and drowning at Lake Samsonvale north of Brisbane in November 2020.
Ms Davidson could not be revived when they returned to shore despite onlookers and emergency services performing CPR. She died at the scene.
Police investigations and a report to the coroner have since uncovered further evidence, and a homicide probe was launched ’18 months to two years’ after her death.
Prior to Davidson’s arrest, detectives gathered witness and expert statements including information about the lake’s conditions at the time of Jacqueline’s death.
‘The cause of death was drowning but it was a case of talking to witnesses and gaining further evidence that the matter appeared suspicious,’ Detective Acting Inspector Steve Windsor said.
‘Police are alleging the male person was involved in the drowning in the lake,’ he added, saying police would argue that the couple of 26 years had ‘some form of breakdown in the relationship’ around the time of her death.
Davidson left Australia five months after his wife’s death to move to the Thai resort of Hua Hin, 200km south of Bangkok, before remarrying young bride Pick Pattraporn at a traditional ceremony in December 2022.
He was arrested earlier this week as he made a flying visit back to Australia to visit family in Queensland.
Graeme Davidson, 54, has been charged with the murder of his wife Jacqueline (pictured together above)
It was reported that Jacqueline Davidson had drowned in a tragic kayaking accident (pictured, police at the scene)
The alleged killer married local woman, Pick Pattraporn, in a traditional Thai ceremony surrounded by her family and friends in December 2022
Queensland police released bodycam footage (pictured) of Davidson’s arrest
Footage from the arrest showed Davidson startled as officers entered the room where he was sleeping on a fold-out sofa.
He was then seen throwing the blankets off himself, sitting upright as police moved in before escorting him outside and into a patrol car.
Davidson was refused police bail and made no appearance at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday when his case was briefly mentioned.
He will remain in custody, with the matter to be mentioned again on May 19.
‘It wasn’t a straight-forward investigation,’ DI Windsor said after the arrest.
‘It involved talking to experts and a number of witnesses and basically putting a lot of small pieces together to form a bigger picture.
Windsor said police would allege Davidson made a life insurance claim and attempted to make another after his wife’s death, confirming they related to the fraud charges.
‘The combined life insurance was in excess of $1million,’ Windsor said. ‘They were quite extensive.’
Graeme Davidson, 55, was arrested and charged with the alleged murder of his 54-year-old wife Jacqueline (pictured together above)
Jacqueline Davidson, 54, drowned while kayaking with Davidson at Lake Samsonvale north of Brisbane in November 2020
Davidson moved to Thailand in the months after his wife’s death
Police allege Davidson tried to claim more than $1million in life insurance policies after his wife’s death
Windsor said police considered extraditing Davidson from Thailand, where he had been living for ‘some years’, but ultimately decided against it.
‘Initially, the woman’s death appeared to be non-suspicious,’ Queensland Police said in a statement.
However, a coronial inquiry led to detectives declaring it suspicious and launching Operation Victor Harlow.
A former friend of Davidson told Daily Mail Australia Davidson had served in the British Army for 22 years.
He later transferred to the Australian Army where he served as a captain at HQ1 Division, Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane from 2010 to 2013.
A source told Daily Mail Australia he and his wife had ‘huge suspicions’ when Jacqueline died (pictured, Graeme and Jacqueline Davidson)
A friend said ‘Jacquie was a beautiful woman and very friendly’
One well wisher congratulated the happy couple admitting she was envious of her friend.
Police will allege Davidson was involved in his wife’s drowning when they were kayaking at Lake Samsonvale north of Brisbane in November 2020 (pictured)
The former friend added Jacqueline, who worked as a beautician in the Brisbane suburb of Chermside, was a ‘beautiful and very friendly’ woman.
Months after his wife died, Davidson moved to Thailand. There, he was active in Hua HIn’s expat community.
He played a key role in the local Veterans Remembrance Day and was interviewed about his own service on the local English-language Surf Radio, when he encouraged new members to join him for a drink.
It’s believed his son Hamish has since joined him in Thailand and his daughter Robyn recently visited her father in Asia.
