A former Jamestown councilman jailed on murder charges in the British Virgin Islands, appeared in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

David Swain is accused of drowning his wife, Shelly Tyre, during a 1999 scuba diving trip in Tortola.

It was the first court appearance for Swain since he was returned to the island and arraigned on the murder charge.

Law enforcement officials in Tortola decided Tyre's death was an accident, then reopened the case after Tyre's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Rhode Island against Swain.

In 2006, a civil jury decided Swain was responsible for Tyre's death and awarded her family millions of dollars in damages.

Swain has maintained his innocence.