Police think sailor killed woman: inquest

Police believe a former sailor who has since died may have killed a woman in Western Australia's Kimberley region almost 20 years ago, an inquest has heard.

Sara-Lee Davey, 21, went missing in January 1997 after going to the Broome Wharf with 19-year-old Richard Dorrough, who was a Royal Australian Navy sailor on shore leave from HMAS Geelong.

Counsel assisting the coroner Sergeant Lyle Housiaux said on Wednesday that Mr Dorrough told Able Seaman Dean Mildenhall he was going to have sex with Ms Davey, but later returned to the ship with a scratch on his face and said she left.

Mr Dorrough was never charged over Ms Davey's disappearance but left a letter before he died saying he had killed three people, prompting police to review the investigation into Ms Davey.

The inquest continues.