Fresh statements from at least two witnesses have led to the arrest of Chris Dawson over the suspected murder of his wife, Lynette, who went missing from their Sydney home almost 40 years ago.
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The new evidence helped police "tie pieces of the puzzle together" before the 70-year-old was taken into custody on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
Some of the additional material surfaced as a result of the Australian newspaper's investigative podcast The Teacher's Pet.
Ms Dawson was 33 when she went missing from Sydney's northern beaches in January 1982 leaving behind two young daughters.
Detectives from the NSW homicide squad began reinvestigating her suspected murder in 2015, calling on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to review their brief of evidence in April this year.
"There was additional evidence that was identified and ... that has seen the DPP make a positive decision in prosecuting an individual for the murder of Lynette Dawson," NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told reporters in Sydney.
"They were predominantly statements from witnesses that helped us tie pieces of the puzzle together."
Dawson, a former Newtown Jets rugby league player, has long been a suspect in the case but denies any involvement in his wife's disappearance.
Police say he was "calm and a little bit taken aback" when arrested on Wednesday while Lyn's family expressed relief.
The 70-year-old appeared in Southport Magistrates Court where NSW Police sought his extradition.
Dawson instructed his solicitors to apply for bail which police have opposed.
Speaking in Sydney, Mr Fuller said: "We spoke to the family of Lynette Dawson this morning who were certainly relieved to hear this result and, from their perspective, they have asked for some patience in terms of their confidentiality going forward."
Detectives in September dug up the backyard at the Bayview home the couple had shared but did not find remains or items of interest.
Detective Superintendent Scott Cook on Wednesday said investigators were confident in the strength of their case even though Ms Dawson's body has not been found.
"There are other examples in policing history and history of the courts where people have been convicted of murder without a body," he said.
AAP
