A bouncer accused of murdering his wife ticked the "no" box in a pension application form when asked if she was still living less than a month after the teenager disappeared.

When the interviewer pointed this out, Steve Frank Fesus said "Oh!" and ticked the "yes" box, his trial for the alleged crime 20 years ago has heard.

Steven Fesus. Credit:Edwina Pickles

He also spoke about giving away his young wife's clothes to charities only two days after he told people she had gone missing from their NSW home, a jury was told.

"His intention to give her clothes away within two days indicates he knew she would not be returning or would not need her clothes or other belongings," prosector Greg Smith SC said in the crown opening address on Monday.