Still Missing Australia - Lynette Dawson, 34, Sydney, Jan 1982 *Arrest* #3

[TootsieFootsie]

I know this isn't going to delight many people in this blog ... a little info about Robert Silkman. Apologies if this is a repeat post.

I've never heard of this site before.
Peter Profit Racing ?

 

[Bats]

I've never heard of this site before.
Peter Profit Racing ?

I hadn't either Tootsie. I just stumbled across it when looking for some info on Silkman. The criticism of Hedley is a bit harsh but i think the info on Silkman is correct.

 

[minusfour]

I know this isn't going to delight many people in this blog ... a little info about Robert Silkman. Apologies if this is a repeat post.

The First Casualty of Podcasts is the Truth - A Little Bit About Robert Silkman, the Crown's Number 2 Star Witness in The Teachers Pet Trial - A Four-Legged Lottery

Chris Dawson, aged 73, is on trial for his life. He is alleged to have killed his wife Lyn more than 40 years ago. If convicted Dawson will die in jail. As most of Australia is aware, this prosecution has been spurred by journalist Hedley Thomas’s hugely popular podcast series The Teachers Pet...

peterprofit.com

I stopped reading at the description of CD having lead a blameless life. Having an affair with one of his students, who he moved into his house, married, and by whom he was accused of violence and controlling conduct isn't blameless. And, whatever happened to Lynette, we do know that she didn't drive herself up to the gap and suicide. She didn't drive, had no car..
I saw part of an old, (1991?) police interview of CD on the ABC news tonight, in which he claimed that he had heard from Lynette more than once after she had left, that she had rung him several times over the years.
He's had bad luck with women, has CD!

 

[Bats]

I stopped reading at the description of CD having lead a blameless life. Having an affair with one of his students, who he moved into his house, married, and by whom he was accused of violence and controlling conduct isn't blameless. And, whatever happened to Lynette, we do know that she didn't drive herself up to the gap and suicide. She didn't drive, had no car..
I saw part of an old, (1991?) police interview of CD on the ABC news tonight, in which he claimed that he had heard from Lynette more than once after she had left, that she had rung him several times over the years.
He's had bad luck with women, has CD!

I feel a bit silly for posting the link in hindsight. My bad. Sorry sleuths!

 

[Tweet57]

I feel a bit silly for posting the link in hindsight. My bad. Sorry sleuths!

Thanks for posting Bats - it all adds to the mystery

 

[Tweet57]

Dawson told the police he had lain awake at night crying his heart out waiting for his wife to call, and that he had still yearned for some contact even after starting his relationship with JC.

Sure Chris…we all believe you…NOT!

 

[drsleuth]

Covid delays Dawson murder trial

The trial of Chris Dawson for the alleged murder of his wife Lynette four decades ago has been brought to a standstill by a very modern problem Covid.

amp.theaustralian.com.au

The prosecutor in Chris Dawson’s murder trial has come down with Covid, forcing an adjournment.
Craig Everson SC had attended proceedings as normal on Monday, however was not in court when the trial resumed Tuesday morning.
The court was told Mr Everson tested positive to Covid with a rapid antigen test Monday night and again on Tuesday.



https://twitter.com/australian
The Australian


Chris Dawson’s murder trial has been adjourned until next Tuesday, with Covid halting proceedings.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Awww no.
I hope Mr Everson only has a mild case. Health is more important than the trial.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Covid delays Dawson murder trial

The trial of Chris Dawson for the alleged murder of his wife Lynette four decades ago has been brought to a standstill by a very modern problem Covid.

amp.theaustralian.com.au

The prosecutor in Chris Dawson’s murder trial has come down with Covid, forcing an adjournment.
Craig Everson SC had attended proceedings as normal on Monday, however was not in court when the trial resumed Tuesday morning.
The court was told Mr Everson tested positive to Covid with a rapid antigen test Monday night and again on Tuesday.



https://twitter.com/australian
The Australian

Chris Dawson’s murder trial has been adjourned until next Tuesday, with Covid halting proceedings.

40 years for justice and then the prosecutor comes down with COVID?

OMG!

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Wondering who the mystery witness will be next week?

Was the 'surprise' witness not Chris' brother Peter?

 

[DRT]

Was the 'surprise' witness not Chris' brother Peter?

I initially thought the same thing but they haven't been subpoenaed yet. I have added the possible other witnesses part in italics. I figured that Peter was probably representing the Dawson family as he is experienced with being in the court room and knows the court lingo.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/chris-dawson-murder-trial-live-updates-mystery-witness-no28-emerges/live-coverage/fc7129842861f186282757471f2c47a9

7:22 am

Mystery 'Witness No.28' may take the stand​

DAVID MURRAY
A mystery witness has emerged at former teacher and professional footballer Chris Dawson’s murder trial.
Prosecutor Craig Everson SC told the Supreme Court in Sydney late Thursday that there was a witness who had not yet been subpoenaed to attend.
The person, referred to as Witness No. 28, might seek to have the subpoena set aside, Mr Everson said.
When trial judge Ian Harrison SC asked who the witness was, Mr Everson asked if he could write the name down on a piece of paper, then handed it up to the bench.
The judge sounded surprised.
Mr Everson said Witness 28 had generated a lot of material.
He said the Harman obligation potentially applied to that material, referring to a legal rule that information obtained through a court’s compulsory processes only be used for the purposes for which they were disclosed.
Other witnesses who could be called this week include Mr Dawson’s twin bother Paul and his wife Marilyn, and older brother Peter Dawson.
Mr Dawson, 73, is accused of murdering his wife Lynette in January 1982. He has pleaded not guilty.

 

[minusfour]

I feel a bit silly for posting the link in hindsight. My bad. Sorry sleuths!

Please don't. It was just interesting that the author seemed to be suggested that the podcast had manipulated data to present a case, by manipulating data.

 

[minusfour]

I initially thought the same thing but they haven't been subpoenaed yet. I have added the possible other witnesses part in italics. I figured that Peter was probably representing the Dawson family as he is experienced with being in the court room and knows the court lingo.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/chris-dawson-murder-trial-live-updates-mystery-witness-no28-emerges/live-coverage/fc7129842861f186282757471f2c47a9

7:22 am

Mystery 'Witness No.28' may take the stand​

DAVID MURRAY
A mystery witness has emerged at former teacher and professional footballer Chris Dawson’s murder trial.
Prosecutor Craig Everson SC told the Supreme Court in Sydney late Thursday that there was a witness who had not yet been subpoenaed to attend.
The person, referred to as Witness No. 28, might seek to have the subpoena set aside, Mr Everson said.
When trial judge Ian Harrison SC asked who the witness was, Mr Everson asked if he could write the name down on a piece of paper, then handed it up to the bench.
The judge sounded surprised.
Mr Everson said Witness 28 had generated a lot of material.
He said the Harman obligation potentially applied to that material, referring to a legal rule that information obtained through a court’s compulsory processes only be used for the purposes for which they were disclosed.
Other witnesses who could be called this week include Mr Dawson’s twin bother Paul and his wife Marilyn, and older brother Peter Dawson.
Mr Dawson, 73, is accused of murdering his wife Lynette in January 1982. He has pleaded not guilty.

"Witness 28 had generated a lot of material"- could it actually be Hedley? Or another reporter? I wonder if such would seek to have the subpoena set aside- protecting sources or something like that?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

"Witness 28 had generated a lot of material"- could it actually be Hedley? Or another reporter? I wonder if such would seek to have the subpoena set aside- protecting sources or something like that?

That would fit!

 

[ChrisV2]

Hedley said in episode 2 of the Teacher's Trial that he will be called to give evidence. So I guess he's not setting aside a subpoena. Don't think he's witness 28.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Someone that surprised the judge when he saw the name. So it had to be a name he recognised.
Maybe someone well known in sports ?
Or one of his police pals from way back.

 

[Podcast Tragic]

My guess is Ben Fordham

 

[Podcast Tragic]

Mr Everson said Witness 28 had generated a lot of material.
He said the Harman obligation potentially applied to that material, referring to a legal rule that information obtained through a court’s compulsory processes only be used for the purposes for which they were disclosed.

Does anyone know what this means ? What are the court's compulsory processes?

 

[JLZ]

Does anyone know what this means ? What are the court's compulsory processes?

I think he is talking about a section 61 certificate. If the witness objects to giving evidence on the grounds of self-incrimination, and the coroner says the witness has to answer anyway, the evidence can't be used against the person in a future case--except perjury. CORONERS ACT 2009 - SECT 61 Privilege in respect of self-incrimination

 

[Trooper]

I feel a bit silly for posting the link in hindsight. My bad. Sorry sleuths!

ah Batty, don't feel that way. This is the whole point of it, to SLEUTH!.. I thought it was a fine bit of sleuthing, actually. I read it a few times, and it had me dithering, a bit. If Chris had only been a bit cleverer! If he only had not got Marilyn to forge Lynns signature on the insurance, and forge it again on the purchase of jeans!.. if only he had not floated the idea to people that Lynn had rang him !.. but back then , he was confident that he had got away with it, and in so many respects, he had indeed.

And they (( all the brothers ) spent a lot of time on the story that Lynn ran away.

He could have divorced Lynn. He could have shared the upbringing of his girls. He could have gone on to purchase another property , he was employable and in good health. He could have eventually sent Joanne out to work. He had a lot of choices, but he signals his utter meanness when he even collected on Lynn's insurance, after he killed her. That takes whole other level of nerve. He chose what he did. Nothing was accidental.

As an aside, there was a story from his rugby playing days, that the Dawson brothers were not the kind of guys who had a strong appreciation for soap, would not shower on the weekends away with the boys gang, I always found this aspect to be one of significance, of their confidence to shun normal human expectations.