Lynette Dawson’s family demand Chris reveal where her body is hidden after murder trial verdict
Former Sydney school teacher and former football star Chris Dawson was found guilty of murdering his first wife Lynette with her family now pleading with him to reveal where he hid her body.
In the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, Dawson, 74, was found guilty by Justice Ian Harrison just after 3pm – of murdering Lyn in order to continue an affair with his teenage babysitter known as ‘JC’.
Lynette’s brother Greg Simms following the guilty verdict provided a statement outside court demanding Dawson lead police to her remains so she can finally have the ‘dignity she deserves’.
‘This is a milestone in our journey of advocating for Lyn. However, the journey is not complete. Lyn is still missing, we still need to bring her home,’ Greg Simms said.
‘We would ask Chris Dawson to find it in himself to finally do the decent thing, and allow us to bring Lyn home to a peaceful rest, finally showing her the dignity she deserves.’
Lynette Dawson’s brother Greg Simms (pictured centre alongside other family members) gave a statement outside court urging Dawson to tell them where her body is
Chris Dawson arrives at the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday to hear the verdict from Justice Harrison on his trial for the murder of his wife Lyn in 1982
The family said the verdict cleared up any suggested she left her children to start a new life as Dawson had claimed.
‘This is a verdict for Lyn. Today her name has been cleared – she loved her family and never left them of her own accord,’ Greg Simms said.
‘Instead, her trust was betrayed by the man she loved. The court has found what we have believed to be true for so many years, that Chris Dawson took the life of our beloved Lyn back in 1982.
‘On behalf of Lyn’s family, heartfelt thanks to all who came forward to speak the truth on Lyn’s behalf, to give her a voice 40 years after she lost her own.’
Mr Simms also paid tribute to his parents and brother Phil who were unable to witness the verdict being handed down.
Lyn’s brother Greg Simms and his wife Merilyn are seen outside court on Tuesday
Mr Simms after the verdict said his sister had been ‘betrayed by the man she loved’
The decision was given on Tuesday after more than four hours of reasoning from the judge.
Two prison officers entered the courtroom and handcuffed Dawson. He appeared to limp as he was led away and taken into custody.
He will be locked up at Silverwater Correctional Centre as he awaits sentencing.
Dawson’s lawyer Greg Walsh confirmed the decision will be appealed.
‘I can confirm that it’s probable of course that he will appeal against his conviction,’ he said outside of court.
‘Mr Dawson has always asserted, and he still does, his absolute innocence of the crime of which he’s been convicted.
‘And he will continue to assert that innocence. And he’ll certainly appeal.’
Dawson was found guilty of murdering his wife Lyn (pictured together) 40 years ago in 1982
In his decision, Justice Harrison said that potentially losing babysitter ‘JC’ in early 1982 was a motive for murder: ‘I am satisfied he resolved to kill his wife’, and that there was also the financial motive of potentially losing his investments.
‘The evidence does not reveal how he killed Lynette Dawson, nor where her body is now,’ he said.
He said the accused told a series of lies about his wife still being alive after her disappearance.
Justice Harrison was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Lynette is dead, that she has not been seen or heard since on or around January 8, 1982 and that she did not leave her home voluntarily.
He was also satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Dawson ‘had a possessive infatuation with’ the schoolgirl babysitter, JC.
Teacher Chris Dawson murdered his wife (pictured) because he was infatuated with one of his students and wanted to marry the 16-year-old, the trial heard
Justice Harrison had entered court 13A at the Supreme Court in Sydney at 10am on Tuesday, amid tense anticipation from both of the accused’s supporters and Lyn’s siblings.
Dawson sat up the front with brother Peter, with twin Paul while other supporters watched from the back of the court.
In the front row, Lynette’s family sat wearing pink in honour of the mother-of-two’s favourite colour.
Reading through his written reasons for his verdict, Justice Harrison described some of the evidence in Dawson’s defence during the trial as ‘fanciful, absurd and lies’.
Dawson was described during a summary of the crown case by His Honour as ‘an unfaithful and violent man’.
