Chris Dawson is appealing a 2022 verdict that found him guilty of killing his wife Lynette in 1982. The court heard that Dawson claimed his wife had made calls to him in early January that year to ask for time away. Dawson’s lawyer, Hatfield, argued that the evidence against his client was not strong enough to prove his guilt. Hatfield also pointed to testimony from Dawson’s brother, Peter, who claimed that Lyn had left and that her disappearance was not unusual.
During the trial, Peter Dawson stated that he did not remember specific conversations with his brother Chris about Lyn’s whereabouts. He also mentioned that Lyn’s mother had done something similar by leaving her children and never contacting them again. This information led Peter to believe that Lyn’s disappearance was not unusual. Hatfield argued that Peter’s testimony raised doubts about the evidence presented against Chris Dawson.
Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison found Dawson guilty of killing Lynette for the purpose of starting a new life with his former student and daughters’ babysitter. Dawson was sentenced to 24 years in prison with a non-parole period of 18 years. Dawson’s legal team has identified five grounds for appeal, including that Harrison’s verdict was unreasonable and lacking sufficient evidence to support Dawson’s guilt. The appeal is being heard by Court of Appeal President Julie Ward and Justices Anthony Payne and Christine Adamson.
Hatfield has urged the court to reject Dawson’s appeal, stating that there is not a significant possibility that an innocent person has been convicted in this case. The court also questioned how Dawson knew that Lyn did not want certain sketches anymore, especially at a time when he believed she was coming back. This inconsistency raises doubts about Dawson’s innocence. The appeal proceedings continue to unfold as Dawson and his legal team fight to overturn the guilty verdict.
