No bail for NSW man accused of 1982 murder

A NSW man accused of murdering his wife almost four decades ago has been refused bail despite his lawyer contending she may not be dead.

John Bowie is seen arriving via police escort at Sydney Domestic Airport in 2019. Source: AAP

A man accused of murdering his wife in northern NSW almost 40 years ago will remain behind bars after being refused bail by a Supreme Court judge.

John Bowie, now 69, was charged in October with murdering his wife Roxlyn who vanished from her Walgett home in June 1982 when she was aged 31.

Her body has never been found.

In arguing for bail on Thursday, his lawyer, Sam Karnib, said he was making the "bold submission" that Ms Bowie may not be dead.

John Bowie is seen arriving via police escort at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney. Source: AAP

He argued the crown case was not strong.

But Justice Robert Allan Hulme said it was highly likely a jury would accept she was indeed dead and the prosecution case could not be described as weak.

The judge refused bail noting the nature of the prosecution case, the extreme seriousness of the charge and the outcome if Bowie was found guilty of murdering his wife.