Hearing begins for alleged wife killer

A man accused of killing his young wife more than 17 years ago has teared up during the first day of a committal hearing.

Steven Fesus wiped away tears as he sat through the first day of evidence at his committal hearing at Sutherland Local Court on Monday.

Fesus has pleaded not guilty to the 1997 killing of his 18-year-old wife Jodie Fesus in the NSW Illawarra region.

Fesus was arrested in 2013, 16 years after his wife's body was found in a shallow grave near a popular camping spot at Gerroa.

The body was discovered five weeks after Mrs Fesus was reported missing.

Fesus now 43 was granted bail last year under the NSW Government's reformed bail laws.

He was supported by family and friends in court on Monday.