Chris Dawson, a former football star for the Newtown Jets, has been found guilty of the murder of his first wife, Lynette “Lyn” Dawson, in early January 1982. The story hit international headlines in 2018 when journalist Hedley Thomas of The Australian newspaper launched The Teacher’s Pet podcast.
Thomas’ reporting led him to uncover facts that otherwise would not have come out. One of which was the hitman, which the judge did not believe. The babysitter, whom we won’t name, was thought by the judge, Justice Ian Harrison, as per Pedestrian. In his closing argument, he said that Lynette died on January 8, 1982, or a short time after this date.
Chris Dawson Was Arrested In Queensland
Chris Dawson’s arrest occurred in Queensland and was charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. We reported that he would stand trial and wondered why he would murder the woman he supposedly loved. As Justice Harrison pointed out, Dawson was obsessed with his teenage babysitter, whom he would later marry after Lyn died and had a third child, another daughter, with her.
Due to the podcast’s popularity, Hedley Thomas was bought in as a witness, and the podcast had to be removed. The defence unsuccessfully argued that it obscured evidence. They claimed the podcast narrative made Chris Dawson seem hateful and violent towards Lynette. Justice Thomas also concluded that there were two timelines: the true one and the one created by Chris Dawson.
Finally, in Dawson’s version, he claimed that he had spoken to his wife several times on the phone after she vanished. Several people came forward claiming they had seen Lyn after January 8th 1982. Moreover, Justice Harrison dismissed the claims as fabrications.
