Chris Dawson’s murder trial has finally ended with the judge promising to reach a verdict “relatively quickly”.
The former Sydney school teacher has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Lynette, who went missing from the family home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches in January 1982.
Following a seven week long trial at The Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison said he will reveal his verdict as soon as possible.
On the final day of hearing, the crown alleged that the former rugby player had an “unfettered relationship” with the family’s babysitter, known in court as JC.
The babysitter was also a student at the same school Dawson taught at and he eventually married her before seeing Lynette as an “impediment” on his relationship with JC.
Dawson’s barrister Pauline David told the court that Lynette would have been “understandably, deeply hurt” by her husband’s relationship with JC but she chose to leave her family behind.
“We say notwithstanding his relationship, however inappropriate, the defence position is that doesn’t make him a murderer,” Ms David told the court, ABC reported.
Dawson maintains his innocence and told the court that he dropped his wife off at a bus stop in Mona Vale on January 9, 1982 where they agreed to meet up to pick up the kids at the swimming pools.
During a police interview he claims that Lynette called him saying she needed time away to think.
He told police that Lynette called him again multiple times over the following weeks with the topic along the same lines.
His defence team are relying on the phone calls, Lynette’s bank statement, as well as alleged sightings of his wife five times between 1982 and 1984.
Ms David told the court that it is a hypothesis which has not yet been thrown out by the courts.
“I hope to be able to provide my judgement relatively quickly,” Justice Harrison said at the conclusion of the submissions.
“That doesn’t mean tomorrow, I can assure you.”
Image: ABC
