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Chris Dawson a ‘conniving monster’, court hears, as judge weighs evidence for sentencing Chris Dawson’s daughter calls on convicted murderer in court to reveal location of Lynette’s body
(about 1 hour later)
Brother of Lynette Dawson tells court her murder in 1982 was an act of ‘ultimate betrayal’ Dawson’s daughter Shanelle tells sentencing hearing ‘the night you removed our mother from our lives was the night you destroyed our sense of safety’
Former schoolteacher Chris Dawson is a “conniving monster” who betrayed his family, the brother of his murder victim, Lynette, has told a Sydney court. Chris Dawson’s daughter has called on the convicted murderer to reveal where her mother’s body is when delivering an emotional victim impact statement at the former teacher’s sentencing hearing.
In a sentencing hearing in the New South Wales supreme court on Thursday, a statement by Greg Simms was read out describing how the loss of his sister had impacted generations. The brother of Dawson’s victim, Lynette Dawson, also described him on Thursday as a “conniving monster” who betrayed his family.
“We considered you an equal in all respects. We trusted you. You repaid us by committing the ultimate betrayal,” Simms wrote. A statement by Greg Simms was read out in the NSW supreme court in which he described how the loss of his sister had impacted generations.
Thursday’s hearing comes 10 weeks after Dawson, now 74, was found guilty of murdering his wife in January 1982 so he could have an unfettered relationship with one of his high school students, known as JC. “We considered you an equal in all respects. We trusted you. You repaid us by committing the ultimate betrayal,” Simms wrote of Dawson.
Thursday’s sentencing hearing comes 10 weeks after Dawson, now 74, was found guilty of murdering his wife in January 1982 so he could have an unfettered relationship with one of his high school students, known as JC.
“It was a brazen act of a conniving monster hell-bent on one thing, getting what you wanted at any cost,” Simms said.
Wearing prison greens sitting in the court dock, Dawson listened to statements from Simms as well as Lynette’s sister Patricia Jenkins and his own daughter Shanelle Dawson.
Before reading her statement, Shanelle paused to fiercely stare at Dawson from across the courtroom, breaking into tears before speaking.
“The night you removed our mother from our lives was the night you destroyed our sense of safety and belonging in this world,” she said.
She had glimpses of memories from the “nightmare night” her mother disappeared, Shanelle Dawson said. Her life had been shattered, she found it difficult to trust men, and she had been diagnosed with PTSD after learning what her father was capable of.
“The torture of not knowing what happened, of what you did with her body - please tell us where she is. I hope you will finally admit the truth to yourself,” she said.
Jenkins said she was “confused, alarmed, distressed and in a deep dark void” after hearing that her sister had disappeared.
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“It was a brazen act of a conniving monster hell bent on one thing, getting what you wanted at any cost,” Simms said. Dawson would lie to his daughters after the murder, telling them that Lynette wasn’t their “real mother” but was only pretend because she had walked out, Jenkins said.
Justice Ian Harrison is hearing submissions from both crown prosecutors and Dawson’s legal team about the length of jail time that should be imposed for the murder. “Lyn’s disappearance and the journey has since taught me that no one is safe from tragedy. It can unexpectedly strike anywhere and justice can also be a long time coming.”
In a five-hour judgment delivered on 30 August, the judge outlined why Dawson was guilty of killing his wife and disposing of her body. Lynette Dawson went missing from the couple’s Bayview home in Sydney’s northern beaches. Her body has never been found despite extensive police searches.
“I am left in no doubt. I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the only rational inference [is that] Lynette Dawson died on or about 8 January 1982 as a result of conscious or voluntary act committed by Christopher Dawson,” Harrison said. On Thursday, crown prosecutor Craig Everson SC said Dawson had planned a “deliberate and conscious act” of domestic violence with the intention to kill.
Lynette Dawson went missing from the couple’s Bayview home in Sydney’s northern beaches four decades ago. Her body has never been found despite extensive police searches. He said a crime of “very great heinousness” required a term of life imprisonment.
Chris Dawson has consistently denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance, claiming she simply left her family home and children without a trace. It was heinous because of the significant harm to others through delays in the case and Dawson’s lack of remorse, Everson said.
Harrison rejected this version of events as “ludicrous”. JC, who was also the family babysitter, was installed in the Bayview home as Dawson’s partner days after he murdered his wife.
Two days after the judgment, a lawyer for the ex-Newtown Jets rugby league player told the court that his client had already received death threats while at Silverwater prison due to the high profile nature of the case. He has consistently denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance, claiming she simply up and left her family home and children without a trace.
The case shot into the public eye largely as a result of The Teacher’s Pet podcast by the Australian newspaper’s Hedley Thomas, which was listened to by millions of people across the globe. The judge rejected that version of events as “ludicrous”.
On the day of the guilty verdict, police confirmed the investigation into Lynette Dawson’s murder was not over and urged anyone with information to come forward. Two days after his guilty verdict, a lawyer for the ex-Newtown Jets rugby league player told the court his client had received death threats while at Silverwater prison due to the high-profile nature of the case.
Chris Dawson has already filed an appeal against his conviction. The sentencing hearing continues. The case shot into the public eye largely as a result of The Teacher’s Pet podcast by The Australian’s Hedley Thomas which was listened to by millions of people across the globe.
Dawson has filed an appeal against his conviction.