An Australian previous superior faculty trainer has been jailed for 24 yrs for murdering his wife 40 a long time ago – following a popular podcast induced a new police investigation.
Chris Dawson, 74, was the matter of strike podcast, The Teacher’s Pet after staying accused of killing Lynette Dawson in January 1982, while her overall body was hardly ever uncovered.
A 2003 inquest experienced advisable charging Dawson with his wife’s murder, but prosecutors declined, citing a deficiency of evidence.
The chilly situation in opposition to him was reopened just after the 2018 podcast put tension on the law enforcement to revisit their investigation.
It established out a circumstantial situation that the ex-rugby league participant had murdered his spouse.
Lynette Dawson’s human body has never been identified
In August this yr, he was uncovered guilty of the crime to go after a romance with a teenage pupil he was possessing an affair with, and who had babysat and lived in his Sydney dwelling.
He was experimented with without a jury due to the publicity surrounding the circumstance.
Dawson’s lawful workforce had argued The Teacher’s Pet, a legitimate-crime podcast developed by Information Corp’s The Australian newspaper, denied him a honest trial simply because of the way he was depicted.
Decide Harrison experienced agreed the podcast – a amount just one strike the paper says has been downloaded extra than 50 million situations – had solid Dawson in a destructive gentle, but had not factored into the verdict.
Sentencing him at New South Wales Supreme Court, Judge Ian Harrison stated Dawson’s assert that his wife had left him was fanciful.
“Dawson has appreciated right until his arrest 36 yrs in the community, unimpeded by the taint of a conviction for killing his wife, or by any punishment for doing so,” he reported.
Dawson maintains he is innocent
“In a useful perception, his denial of obligation for that crime has benefited him in noticeable means.”
Dawson has insisted he was not associated in his wife’s disappearance.
His lawyer reported he would be captivating in opposition to the sentence. “He maintains his innocence,” he advised reporters on Friday.
Dawson will be eligible for parole in 2040, when he is 92 a long time aged.
Chris Dawson, pictured listed here in August, has been jailed for 24 decades
Greg Simms, Lynette Dawson’s brother, mentioned the family members welcomed the sentence.
“We respect and thank Judge Harrison for his sentence, and hope Chris Dawson lives a prolonged daily life in order to serve that sentence,” he reported.
Dan Doherty, a detective involved in the law enforcement investigation, mentioned whilst the sentence would deliver comfort to the loved ones, the scenario remains open up as the victim’s body has still not been identified.
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