Courier Mail 17 March
Pilot accused of killing Qld mother Frances Crawford applying for bail
A Queensland air force pilot accused of murdering his wife and allegedly making it look like a lawnmower accident has made a bid for freedom.
The air force pilot accused of murdering his wife and allegedly making it look like a lawnmower accident will apply to be released from jail.
Robert John Crawford, 46, was charged with murdering and interfering with the corpse of his wife – Toowoomba psychologist and mother-of-three Frances Crawford – on July 30.
Emergency crews were initially called to the pair’s Lockyer Valley property at 3.30am where her body was found next to a ride-on lawnmower at the bottom of a high retainer wall in their backyard.
Crawford was charged on October 11 after an in-depth investigation by police and has remained in custody at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre since.
Last week, Crawford made an application to apply for bail on April 4.
It’s the second time Crawford has intended to apply for bail, after first making an application in October last year but adjourning the matter just two days before the court date.
The bail application will be heard before a judge in Brisbane Supreme Court.
Crawford initially raised the alarm to paramedics about Mrs Crawford’s death and was assisting police with inquiries.
In September, Crawford listed the home where Mrs Crawford was allegedly killed on AirBnB as a “tranquil” retreat and charged guests $300 a night.
In October, police made an appeal to the public for information, revealing that Crawford had connections with women all over the world who he met on dating apps and through his career as a pilot with the Royal Australian Air Force.
The women resided in Italy, United States of America, Papua New Guinea, Guam, Afghanistan, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and across Australia including Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Less than a week after the appeal, officers arrested Crawford at the Lockyer Valley house and charged him with Mrs Crawford’s murder, and interfering with a corpse.
Ms Crawford was a much-loved mother-of-three who worked as a psychologist at Quality Life Psychology Services in Toowoomba. Ms Crawford’s devastated family have previously spoken about their grief, saying the murder charge was a “step forward”.
“Her death has been devastating to us all, even more so given the circumstances,” part of the statement read.
“We are thankful that police have been relentless in their investigations in an effort to provide us answers and to seek justice for Frances.”
She was also deeply involved in her church, Toowoomba Restoration Church.
Crawford’s criminal case will also be in court on Wednesday for a committal hearing.
