Ex-cop in court over Qld murder charge

An ex-police officer charged with murdering his wife more than six years ago will appear in court on Monday.

Louis James Mahony, 42, is accused of murdering Lainie Coldwell in Charleville in August 2009.

The former Northern Territory officer was arrested following a forensic review of the case which led detectives to question the assumption the woman died while taking down Christmas lights from a tree at her home.

He was refused bail during his last hearing in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.

The Crown alleges Mahony took out a life insurance policy against his former wife shortly before her death and that he enquired about the scheme after she had died.

He is due to appear at Charleville Magistrates Court via videolink.