Vic killer seeks to avoid Hodsons inquest

A convicted murderer will seek to avoid giving evidence at the Melbourne inquest into the deaths of police informer Terence Hodson and his wife Christine.

The couple was gunned down at their home in Kew in May 2004 shortly before Mr Hodson was due to give evidence in a criminal trial against former drug squad detective Paul Dale.

The Victorian Coroners Court was on Monday told that convicted killer Rodney Collins would seek to be excused from giving evidence.

Collins and Mr Dale were charged with the Hodsons' murder in 2009, but the charges were dropped in 2010.

Both men have maintained their innocence.

Collins, 69, is serving two life sentences for the shooting murders of Ramon and Dorothy Abbey at their Melbourne home in July 1987.

State Coroner Judge Ian Gray adjourned the inquest on Monday after requesting documents from the Australian Crime Commission and the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission.

The inquest, which resumes on Friday, will focus on the identity of the killers, as well as the adequacy of the protection afforded to the Hodsons.