Rachel Fieldhouse
Legal

Phonetap reveals shock claims in Chris Dawson murder trial

Chris Dawson’s twin brother has doubled down on claims that his brother’s school-aged lover “had more motive” to murder his wife Lynette, after a phone tap from 23 years ago was played in court.

During his second day of testimony, Paul Dawson described his twin as the least violent man he’s ever met, with the Supreme Court hearing a secret phone tap of the pair talking after Paul was grilled by detectives over the 1982 disappearance of his sister-in-law, per 9News.

“He implied that something has happened to Lyn and you had motive,” Paul said in the recording from March 1999.

“They think something has happened to Lyn and I had the motive and they are going to search the property and do all sorts of things. Oh well, good luck to them,” Chris replied.

“If anyone had the motive, (JC) had more motive,” Paul said.

“JC”, as she has been identified during the trial, was the Dawson’s babysitter and a highschool student of Chris’ before he began having an affair with her and later marrying her.

The Crown alleges Chris murdered Lynette so he could have an “unfettered relationship” with JC.

In court, Paul doubled down on his accusations against JC while being questioned by Crown Prosecutor Craig Everson SC.

“If Lyn had been murdered, JC had the motive, JC had more to gain and JC did gain more than Chris ever gained from their relationship,” Paul said.

He also recalled a conversation with Elva McBay, a now-deceased family friend, who told him JC had made a threat against Lynette at a birthday party.

“JC just said if she got in her way… she’d get rid of her,” he claimed McBa said.

The phone tap also included a conversation between Chris and Paul about where Lynette could be.

“Either Lyn’s somewhere with a whole new life,” Paul said.

“Yeah,” Chris replied.

“Or something happened, I mean,” Paul continued.

“I know,” Chris said.

“She could be anywhere,” Paul said.

Paul, who has said he is keeping an eye on media reports about the trial, has described the allegations that Chris was violent as “most outrageous”.

He said that over the course of Chris and Lynette’s 17-year relationship he never even heard a derogatory comment.

The trial continues under Justice Ian Harrison.

Image: 9News

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Legal, Chris Dawson, Lynette Dawson, Court, Phone Tap