Chris Dawson has been found guilty of murdering his wife Lynette Dawson after he developed an “infatuation” with the teenage babysitter and would tell his wife he was studying at the library while the pair had sex, a court has heard.
Justice Ian Harrison SC has found Chris Dawson had a motive to kill his wife Lynette, finding him guilty of her murder after a marathon five-hour judgement.
During remarks, Justice Harrison said the teenage girl known as JC was experiencing difficulties in her family when she confided in him.
Mr Dawson was already attracted to her and his attraction developed into “an infatuation”, Justice Harrison said.
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Delivering his findings on Tuesday afternoon, Justice Harrison said the babysitter's desire to end their affair had pushed him to kill Lynette.
“I am satisfied that distressed, frustrated and ultimately overwhelmed and tortured by her absence . . . Mr Dawson resolved to kill his wife,” he said.
The judge was satisfied the pair began a sexual relationship on a visit to Mr Dawson’s parents home and continued after that.
He told the court it was clear that Lynette Dawson “was not happy about (the relationship) and that she was told by those close to her that it was unacceptable”.
The court heard that in 1980, when the student was aged 16 and in Year 11, she and Mr Dawson went to his parents home in Maroubra and had sex for the first time.
It was a week after their first kiss.
On a number of occasions thereafter, Mr Dawson would drive the pair to Manly Point and “regularly have sex in his car”.
“Mr Dawson would typically pick up (the teen) at a designated spot, drive to a remote location and they would have sex in his car,” Justice Harrison said.
The teenage babysitter came to live with the family and care for their children in 1981.
She previously told the court she had sex with her former teacher while his wife was asleep. In late 1981, Mr Dawson and the babysitter packed a car with their belongings and set out to move to Queensland.
The couple didn’t make it to Queensland, instead turning around when JC felt ill.
A few months later in early 1982, the babysitter told the court she received a call from Mr Dawson telling her “Lyn’s gone, she’s not coming back”.
She married her former teacher two years later, but the couple bitterly split after six years together. Justice Harrison found JC’s evidence to the court to be “truthful and reliable”, and said he did not believe the couple’s break-up had tainted her evidence.
Justice Harrison said he was “satisfied that Mr Dawson was obsessed with JC and the prospect of losing her”.
The judge said Mr Dawson’s obsession was “not by itself sufficient to establish the crime” of murder.
On whether Mr Dawson had considered hiring a hitman to kill his wife before he met JC because they were struggling to conceive a baby, Justice Harrison called that “fanciful”.
Mr Dawson, 74, pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife.
After a three-month trial, Justice Harrison SC delivered his findings on Tuesday and Mr Dawson will head back to Silverwater prison to await sentencing.
After telling the court he believed none of the five alleged sightings of Lynette Dawson following her death were “genuine”, Justice Harrison ruled the mother-of-two was dead – and had not left her home of her own accord.
“Lynette Dawson is dead … she died on or about 8 January 1982 and she did not voluntarily abandon her home.,” he told the court.
Mr Dawson was silent as he walked into the Sydney Downing Centre on Tuesday morning to hear the judge’s final decision. He was supported by his lawyer and older brother as he walked through the tight crowd of journalists reporting on the case.
Lynette Dawson’s family and supporters arrived at the court alongside The Australian journalist Hedley Thomas, all wearing pink in her honour as they await the verdict after 40 years of wondering what happened.
The courtroom overflowed with journalists and interested court watchers, many of whom were directed to a nearby screen where the verdict would be broadcast to those who couldn’t be accommodated in the room.
Mr Dawson maintained he dropped his wife off in Mona Vale on Friday afternoon, and she was meant to meet him later but she later called him to say she needed time to herself.
Police allege she was killed either Friday evening or early the following morning.
— with NCA NewsWire
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