Chris Dawson shakes his head and sobs as court hears he ‘threatened to get rid of his wife Lyn during a marriage counselling session’
- Chris Dawson applied for bail on Friday after he was charged with murder
- But the decision was delayed due to possibilities he could flee the country
- The crown suggested he may use his twin brother’s passport to leave Australia
- The 70-year-old former rugby league player allegedly intends to plead not guilty
- Fresh statements from at least two witnesses led to the arrest on December 6
Chris Dawson sobbed as he appeared in court via video link as the prosecution accused him of threatening to ‘get rid of’ his wife during a counselling session.
The 70-year-old former rugby league player intends to plead not guilty to the murder of the mother of two of his children, Lynette Dawson.
Dawson was charged on December 6 with the murder of his wife on Sydney’s northern beaches in early 1982 after fresh statements from at least two witnesses, including from Dawson’s former flame Joanne Curtis.
Chris Dawson is expected to apply for bail after he was charged with the historic alleged murder of his wife 40 years ago
The former Newtown Jets player shook his head while sobbing as the allegations about the closed door marriage counselling session were discussed.
Crown prosecutor Craig Everson said during the appointment, Dawson told his wife ‘if this doesn’t work, I’ll get rid of you,’ ABC reported.
His lawyer, Greg Walsh, said during the proceedings the case against Dawson was entirely circumstantial.
In addition, he argued Dawson hadn’t been given a fair trial due to media persecution.
‘It is difficult to know whether people’s beliefs and memories had been shaped by the disappearance of Lyn Dawson,’ he said.
‘This commentary has been fundamentally prejudicial in giving this man the right to the presumption of innocence,’ he said.
‘It is very important that his arrest and charge is not a determination of guilt — this man is entitled to the presumption of innocence, it’s a fundamental right.’
Mr Walsh said during a December 6 court hearing his client ‘strenuously asserts his innocence’ and that Dawson was ‘anxious and stressed about the situation’ and planned to plead not guilty.
Dawson also learned he could be denied bail despite his willingness to post a $1.5 million surety because prosecution argues he could flee using his twin brother’s passport.
Dawson scoffed at the suggestion, and said ‘you’re kidding,’ after the crown’s argument, 9News reported.
But the judge chose not to make a decision on the matter in Friday’s session.
Instead, he pushed the decision on Dawson’s bail application until Monday.
Ms Dawson (right) was 33 when she disappeared in 1982, leaving behind two young daughters
Ms Dawson was 33 when she disappeared in 1982, leaving behind two young daughters.
Her husband reported her missing almost six weeks later, and her body has never been found.
The case was the subject of The Australian newspaper’s investigative podcast The Teacher’s Pet, which brought the case back into the public eye.
NSW Police, which reopened the cold case in 2015, said fresh statements from at least two witnesses led to the arrest of the former Newtown rugby league player on the Gold Coast on December 5.
The accused killer, who was living at Coolum Beach, was extradited from Queensland on December 6.