A former policeman previously named as the prime suspect in the murder of a Melbourne businesswoman and grandmother changed his alibi story in the days after her death, a court has been told.
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Brenda Goudge, 61, was found beneath the pool cover in her Wantirna South backyard, partially wrapped in bloodied bedclothes, on July 8, 2011, by her daughter Rebecca and business partner Paul Gallaway.
Mr Gallaway had been named at a previous coronial hearing as a suspect in Ms Goudge's murder.
He was surrounded by a small group of supporters during the first day of Ms Goudge's inquest on Wednesday and was represented by a lawyer.
Rebecca Goudge told the inquest that her mother believed her business partners were trying to force her out, and had been making business decisions behind her back.
Ms Goudge's daughter Rebecca told the inquest her mother "didn't have much time" for Mr Gallaway and another man with whom she owned Jay Dee Auto Cables in Bayswater.
"Many of the staff would have heard the arguing," she said.
"It was mostly between Paul [Gallaway] and Mum."
Rebecca Goudge, who worked as Jay Dee Auto Cable's book keeper, said the business had been "struggling" at the time of her mother's death, and had an $80,000 overdraft. She said her mother had taken out a "high insurance premium" before her death.
Rebecca Goudge also told the court Mr Gallaway had told her five days after Ms Goudge died that he had been alone on the night of the murder, but later changed this story to say his wife had been home the night Ms Goudge was murdered.
The courtroom was packed with family and friends of Ms Goudge, who the inquest was told had no "identifiable issues in her life" apart from workplace problems.
Counsel assisting the coroner Naomi Hodgson told the inquest Ms Goudge's family members and business partners all stood to benefit financially from her death.
Rebecca Goudge told the inquest she became worried about her mother on July 8, after Ms Goudge failed to turn up to work, and had not sent her grandson a Facebook message for his birthday, as was her custom.
The court was told there were no apparent signs of forced entry into the home. There were blood stain "drag marks" more than 10 metres to the back door.
Dr Matthew Lynch, who conducted the autopsy on Ms Goudge's body, told the inquest he had found the cause of death to be asphyxia, neck compression and immersion.
He could not say whether Ms Goudge was dead when she went into the water, or whether she was unconscious and died by drowning.
"Can I say that Mrs Goudge was dead before she went into the water?" he asked. "I couldn't answer that question."
Mr Lynch said she had bruising on her forearms, which was consistent with Ms Goudge fighting back against her attacker.
The inquest continues.
