After three days of conflicting arguments about whether a verdict Chris Dawson was guilty of killing his wife should be thrown out or remain, three judges are set to consider their decision.
The 75-year-old is appealing an August 2022 NSW Supreme Court judgment finding he killed his wife Lynette Dawson and disposed of her body in January 1982 because she was an impediment to a relationship with his teenage babysitter.
Three judges from the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal will hear a third day of submissions today and retire to consider their decision after this concludes.
Dawson’s barrister Belinda Rigg SC has argued that it was not open to the court to find her client murdered his wife beyond reasonable doubt.
Rigg claimed there was another possibility, that Dawson had left her home and family in Sydney’s northern beaches to start a new life in the aftermath of her husband’s infidelity with his teenage student.
The then 33-year-old was last seen on January 8, 1982 and has not contacted anyone since with the exception of Dawson who claims she rang him in the week after that saying she needed time alone.
Rigg said Justice Ian Harrison made several key errors when convicting her client, including using his lies to show guilt and ignoring a significant disadvantage he had in defending a 40-year-old murder case.
Against this, crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC told the appeals court that any allegations Dawson abandoned the home should be rejected.
All evidence pointed towards Dawson killing her and disposing of her body so he could then install the teen student in his home, he said.
If the ex-teacher is successful on his appeal, he could be acquitted or the matter sent back for a retrial.
