Vic man wrote to mum after killing wife

A former British Army major allegedly strangled his wife to death and then apologised to his mother for having stained the family name.

David Whitelegg is accused of murdering Anne Whitelegg on September 18 last year.

Police went to the couple's Wallan home about three days later, after Whitelegg allegedly phoned a funeral director and said his wife had died unexpectedly.

They found Ms Whitelegg on the kitchen floor with obvious marks on her neck, police documents before the Melbourne Magistrates Court say.

Whitelegg allegedly told officers he found her dead in the garage and dragged her into the kitchen.

In a later statement, he said Ms Whitelegg had left their home after an argument a couple of days earlier and he had not seen her again until discovering her body.

Autopsy results show she was drunk when she died.

In statements to police and in court, some of the couple's associates said Ms Whitelegg was a heavy drinker.

Prosecutors say the couple had an unhappy marriage and Whitelegg controlled their finances.

Ms Whitelegg allegedly told him she would get half their possessions in the weeks leading up to her death.

"He replied that he would rather see her dead than let her take half of everything," police say, in court documents tendered on Monday.

Whitelegg allegedly began organising his affairs in the hours after his wife's death, including giving his beloved cat to the RSPCA.

Police say he transferred $100,000 to his mother's bank account in England.

Whitelegg allegedly wrote to his mother, claiming responsibility for his wife's death and apologising for having "stained the family name".

He is also accused of writing to his solicitor, stating he left all assets to his mother, and arranging his wife's funeral - including music and the inscription on her headstone.

Whitelegg mailed the letters and then tried to take his own life, police say.

His committal hearing continues on Tuesday.

Whitelegg served in both the British and Australian armies.

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