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

[KidonGadol]

For those who are interested , the antecedent statement that CD lodge with NSW.... as above. The interesting things about this if people are new to the case.
1. It is a photocopy - someone in the police station where it was kept in the destroyed file seems to have had the foresight to keep a copy as they knew or suspected CD's friends would help him by destroying the early file on the case, which they apparently did.
2. It appears to have been handed to Hedley Thomas and he won't reveal the person who gave it to him. It could be a civilian employee of the police at the time for all we know.
3. Because it is in CD's handwriting it is fairly easy to verify as non fraudulent.
4. It contains about 4 lies or dissimulations about the situation at the time - especially about the excessive bankcard use which appears to be utterly false.

 

[DRT]

For those who are interested , the antecedent statement that CD lodge with NSW.... as above. The interesting things about this if people are new to the case.
1. It is a photocopy - someone in the police station where it was kept in the destroyed file seems to have had the foresight to keep a copy as they knew or suspected CD's friends would help him by destroying the early file on the case, which they apparently did.
2. It appears to have been handed to Hedley Thomas and he won't reveal the person who gave it to him. It could be a civilian employee of the police at the time for all we know.
3. Because it is in CD's handwriting it is fairly easy to verify as non fraudulent.
4. It contains about 4 lies or dissimulations about the situation at the time - especially about the excessive bankcard use which appears to be utterly false.

It was obtained from Sue Strath's ombudsman complaint in 1985. She sought the details I assume under Freedom of Information as part of the podcast. Here is a summary of her testimony.

Lynette Dawson's former colleague claims mother felt positive about her future before she vanished

www.9news.com.au

 

[Trooper]

For those who are interested , the antecedent statement that CD lodge with NSW.... as above. The interesting things about this if people are new to the case.
1. It is a photocopy - someone in the police station where it was kept in the destroyed file seems to have had the foresight to keep a copy as they knew or suspected CD's friends would help him by destroying the early file on the case, which they apparently did.
2. It appears to have been handed to Hedley Thomas and he won't reveal the person who gave it to him. It could be a civilian employee of the police at the time for all we know.
3. Because it is in CD's handwriting it is fairly easy to verify as non fraudulent.
4. It contains about 4 lies or dissimulations about the situation at the time - especially about the excessive bankcard use which appears to be utterly false.

oh he hated her having that Bankcard... back in those days, it was a real first, women could get a bankcard , didn't need a husbands permission, it was solely on their signature, and Lynn was solely responsible for it, this infuriated not only Dawson, but 1/2 of Australians male population, I recall it very well. All sorts of consequences were predicted.

Women would run around with whomsoever they liked, without permission. Women could buy their own drinks, with anyone they chose to drink with, without permission. Women had autonomy with money, never mind if they actually earned it, which Lynn did. Women, and god help us all, could actually walk down any street and buy whatever caught their eye without asking anyone!.. Women didn't have to ask a man for money.

It was the beginning of the end of the world. Don't forget this was not long after the whole idea that if a woman was married she lost her job. Only single women working, and only until they married. You may not believe me, but this is what Chris Dawson grew up with plus the Catholic interdictions on top of all that.

He mentioned that Bankcard to everyone, and it must have been a real thrill for him and his sis in law, Marilyn to finally get their sticky fingers on it, and use it, that'll teach Lynn, ey?..... The bankcard symbolised everything he hated , and every hate he laid out on Lynn.

Of course, Lynn leaving without her own bankcard is illogical. Dawson didn't stop to think on that aspect.

 

[bfew]

Sue Strath's ombudsman complaint in 1985

https://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/132909/Ombudsman-second-response-to-Podcast-The-Teachers-Pet.pdf

'‘[A]fter archives staff located the file for The Australian, the Ombudsman’s office agreed to waive restrictions that would have prevented the documents being released for 90 years from when they were created’ - ‘From the archives, friend’s cry for justice’ The Australian, 6 July 2018, p 7 The Ombudsman’s file was never the subject of a 90 year access restriction. I understand that NSW State Archives and Records believed that the file was subject to a 90 year access restriction. This information was provided before the file had been reviewed by my office. Once my office became aware of the access application, my staff obtained access to the file from State Archives, reviewed its contents and advised State Archives that it was not subject to a 90 year restriction. It follows that, as the file was not subject to a 90 year restriction, and was more than 30 years old, it was in the ‘open access period’, and access was granted. It was understandable, in the circumstances, that State Archives presumed that the file was subject to a 90 year access restriction. Some Ombudsman files, such as those relating to witness protection matters, telephone intercepts, child deaths and investigations about children, are subject to such a restriction. However, the file in question did not concern any of these matters.'

How was it "understandable" that NSW State Archives staff presumed that the file with Susan Strath's 1985 complaint to the ombudsman was subject to a 90 year access restriction, when it was not relating to witness protection matters, telephone intercepts, child deaths, and investigations about children?

 

[KidonGadol]

It was obtained from Sue Strath's ombudsman complaint in 1985. She sought the details I assume under Freedom of Information as part of the podcast. Here is a summary of her testimony.

Lynette Dawson's former colleague claims mother felt positive about her future before she vanished

www.9news.com.au

People are conflating getting a return copy of the Sue Strath complaint with the separate document which is the Antecedent statement of Dawson to the police . This latter was not obtained by Hedly via FOI. You'd have to listen to his podcasts to find out but he says it was frm an unnamed source. THe question is - is there any other handwriting from CD at about this time that can be used to validate the author of the statement by CD ? I don't believe CD's lawyer(s) ever repudiated this document.

 

[Morrisa]

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/chris-dawson-questioned-by-police-about-sexy-celebrations-tears-and-black-eyes/news-story/577fd74850e7eb4a66448a91d74ae816

On the evening of January 8, 1982, Chris Dawson fixed his wife a glass of wine to toast, having patched up the schism in their faltering marriage.
He was planning a “sexy celebration”, the former teacher told detectives.

 

[bfew]

He was planning a “sexy celebration”, the former teacher told detectives.

Who with?

 

[DRT]

People are conflating getting a return copy of the Sue Strath complaint with the separate document which is the Antecedent statement of Dawson to the police . This latter was not obtained by Hedly via FOI. You'd have to listen to his podcasts to find out but he says it was frm an unnamed source. THe question is - is there any other handwriting from CD at about this time that can be used to validate the author of the statement by CD ? I don't believe CD's lawyer(s) ever repudiated this document.

Contact Us - NSW Police Public Site

www.australianpolice.com.au

The full details of the investigation into the complaint had the Antecedent report attached to it. If you were following the podcast when it first came out there was a wordpress site that had attachments which included the full details of Sue Straths Ombudsman request and the investigation surrounding it. There were 43 pages that were obtained from the archives which included the hand written report. The wordpress files were taken down when the podcast stopped. I have a copy.

They were sourced from the archives so it would be official.

"The ombudsman’s file on the complaint was discovered by The Australian in storage with NSW State Archives and Records after lengthy investigations for podcast series The Teacher’s Pet and is detailed in a new episode, released today."

"Among the documents was Mr Dawson’s long-lost handwritten statement to police of August 1982, in which he blamed his marital problems on his wife’s credit card spending but did not mention his teenage lover."

 

[DRT]

If you play the recording Chris will tell you.

https://www.news.com.au/national/chris-dawson-was-planning-a-sexy-celebration/video/9c2737f28d0bba1a59ebca63ac329816

 

[k-mac]

If you play the recording Chris will tell you.

https://www.news.com.au/national/chris-dawson-was-planning-a-sexy-celebration/video/9c2737f28d0bba1a59ebca63ac329816

GOOD LORD.

what even is a sexy celebration lmao

CD lingo for.... romance?.......intimacy?....love?.....pleasure?....rekindling the spark?

The ridiculous wording although trivial speaks of his lack of depth even when digging deep to get out of a murder investigation.

 

[KidonGadol]

Contact Us - NSW Police Public Site

www.australianpolice.com.au

The full details of the investigation into the complaint had the Antecedent report attached to it. If you were following the podcast when it first came out there was a wordpress site that had attachments which included the full details of Sue Straths Ombudsman request and the investigation surrounding it. There were 43 pages that were obtained from the archives which included the hand written report. The wordpress files were taken down when the podcast stopped. I have a copy.

They were sourced from the archives so it would be official.

"The ombudsman’s file on the complaint was discovered by The Australian in storage with NSW State Archives and Records after lengthy investigations for podcast series The Teacher’s Pet and is detailed in a new episode, released today."

"Among the documents was Mr Dawson’s long-lost handwritten statement to police of August 1982, in which he blamed his marital problems on his wife’s credit card spending but did not mention his teenage lover."

your first quote is reference to an Australian police website. clearly one of the charters of that site is to make the police look good and professional. Therefore on matters where they seem lacking the information is going to be somewhat edited.

Mr Dawson at the end of his statement made an unusual comment — that he was “being advised on procedure by Sergeant Brian Gardner ( #8841 ), Manly Detectives”. - who of course is now dead.
What the article does not explain is how a freedom of information request from Strath for records of her contact with NSW police and how it was dealt with resulted in a supposedly LOST document , the antecedent report, suddenly coming to life. Perhaps the Antecedent report (AR) was photocopied from the local police station files near Gilwinga place and was thus preserved as part of the investigation into whether the Stath complaint of inaction was properly dealt with.

My next suggestion is not too far fetched - having had a formal request for that document from further up the police tree, the local police who knew that the investigation had been rather superficial, decided to remove the remaining contents of the physical file which would keep them from being accused of doing an inadequate job.

H Thomas in his podcast says that when the investigation was restarted , that Dawson file was found to be stripped by persons unknown even though it was a cold case and should be archived. He hinted that an anonymous person had leaked the AR to him (after reviewing DRT's comment, that sounds as if HT was allowed to see the report but not copy it and he left a contact address and someone at NSW state archives provided him with assistance. So of course he can 't name them ).

I don't think that the police would ever give a copy of that to Strath as it is their document, they own it and it is not in their interest to hand it on. (That's to say Strath gave HT only the police file copy of her complaint and nothing more as she did not have more to give).

 

[bfew]

My next suggestion is not too far fetched - having had a formal request for that document from further up the police tree, the local police who knew that the investigation had been rather superficial, decided to remove the remaining contents of the physical file which would keep them from being accused of doing an inadequate job.

Sounds like now is a good time to have a public inquiry into what happened: because many of the key witnesses are now deceased. (sarcasm)

It's a pity that the trial of Dawson will further delay any (if any) public inquiry into what happened.

Assuming that Christopher Michael Dawson is found not guilty at his current murder trial, any public inquiry might have to be further delayed, pending a prosecution appeal, or possibly a re-trial. Let alone even more potential delays in any public inquiry, due to further investigations from any new evidence that might surface in the near future. Or a reluctance to hold public inquiries of this nature whilst a case is still cold or unresolved.

By the time the first clear opportunity comes around for any public inquiry, the Dawson twins will probably be too old or deceased to give evidence. Likewise some of the other witnesses.

 

[k-mac]

Sounds like now is a good time to have a public inquiry into what happened: because many of the key witnesses are now deceased. (sarcasm)

It's a pity that the trial of Dawson will further delay any (if any) public inquiry into what happened.

Assuming that Christopher Michael Dawson is found not guilty at his current murder trial, any public inquiry might have to be further delayed, pending a prosecution appeal, or possibly a re-trial. Let alone even more potential delays in any public inquiry, due to further investigations from any new evidence that might surface in the near future. Or a reluctance to hold public inquiries of this nature whilst a case is still cold or unresolved.

By the time the first clear opportunity comes around for any public inquiry, the Dawson twins will probably be too old or deceased to give evidence. Likewise some of the other witnesses.

BBM
Lets rephrase that bit to.... in the unlikely event that CD is found not guilty lol

 

[DRT]

your first quote is reference to an Australian police website. clearly one of the charters of that site is to make the police look good and professional. Therefore on matters where they seem lacking the information is going to be somewhat edited.

Mr Dawson at the end of his statement made an unusual comment — that he was “being advised on procedure by Sergeant Brian Gardner ( #8841 ), Manly Detectives”. - who of course is now dead.
What the article does not explain is how a freedom of information request from Strath for records of her contact with NSW police and how it was dealt with resulted in a supposedly LOST document , the antecedent report, suddenly coming to life. Perhaps the Antecedent report (AR) was photocopied from the local police station files near Gilwinga place and was thus preserved as part of the investigation into whether the Stath complaint of inaction was properly dealt with.

My next suggestion is not too far fetched - having had a formal request for that document from further up the police tree, the local police who knew that the investigation had been rather superficial, decided to remove the remaining contents of the physical file which would keep them from being accused of doing an inadequate job.

H Thomas in his podcast says that when the investigation was restarted , that Dawson file was found to be stripped by persons unknown even though it was a cold case and should be archived. He hinted that an anonymous person had leaked the AR to him (after reviewing DRT's comment, that sounds as if HT was allowed to see the report but not copy it and he left a contact address and someone at NSW state archives provided him with assistance. So of course he can 't name them ).

I don't think that the police would ever give a copy of that to Strath as it is their document, they own it and it is not in their interest to hand it on. (That's to say Strath gave HT only the police file copy of her complaint and nothing more as she did not have more to give).

Most information from the Australian to do with this case is subscriber only so I am not picking and choosing websites. I am trying to find articles that all are available to see. The site isn't an official police site because it is .com rather than .gov site, it had an article that was available. You seem to be misquoting me I said "I assume" it was freedom of information and when I looked at the article I was wrong.

I haven't listened to the article for a while as I am in Australia but I remember Hedley suggesting to Sue that she should ask for a copy of her complaint but I had forgotten about the archives. You seem to be listening to the podcast now so I guess you are overseas or via a VPN. There was also a lot of information posted in the Australian at the time so if you can get access old copies you might get further information.

From what I can see is the old threads that were discussing the case before the arrest seem to be deleted so unfortunately that can't be used as a source as there were some good discussions at that time.

Agreed on your comment about the police not giving the investigation information to Sue Strath.

 

[DRT]

DBM

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Craig Everson SC has arrived at the Supreme Court today after recovering from COVID. The trial should resume now.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

They seem to be getting into the nitty gritty today.

Chris Dawson hitman tale changes in court

The murder trial of Chris Dawson has heard a third version of events where the teacher allegedly sought a hitman to get rid of his wife in the early 1980s.

7news.com.au

 

[DRT]

They seem to be getting into the nitty gritty today.

Chris Dawson hitman tale changes in court

The murder trial of Chris Dawson has heard a third version of events where the teacher allegedly sought a hitman to get rid of his wife in the early 1980s.

7news.com.au

One thing I notice here is the lawyer seems to be supplying evidence not just questioning the witness. The first wording is a suggestion but not expecting an answer. Both are like additional information without a witness under oath.

"Dawson's barrister Pauline David suggested that because her client was a physical education teacher, it would not have been unusual for him to check out the indoor cricket ground because of his love of sports."

"Ms David said Dawson had purchased JC a cricket bat and encouraged her to play."

 

[JLZ]

One thing I notice here is the lawyer seems to be supplying evidence not just questioning the witness. The first wording is a suggestion but not expecting an answer. Both are like additional information without a witness under oath.

"Dawson's barrister Pauline David suggested that because her client was a physical education teacher, it would not have been unusual for him to check out the indoor cricket ground because of his love of sports."

"Ms David said Dawson had purchased JC a cricket bat and encouraged her to play."

The evidence is what the witness says in reply. But it must be hugely annoying to the witness to be told what happened by someone who wasn't there.

 

[musicaljoke]

The court also heard evidence about Dawson’s control over the relationship from Longhurst, who detailed how she had invited JC to come with her to the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre on the Gold Coast.

JC had to check with Dawson to see if she could go and also get permission about what she could wear, Longhurst said.
At the shopping centre, JC did not buy anything and brought along her own packed lunch which she ate in the car, Justice Ian Harrison heard.

Court hears new version of Chris Dawson’s alleged meeting with hitman days before wife vanished

The court was told about an alleged visit to a pub in the early 1980s where Chris Dawson handed over an envelope to a man a few days before Lynette disappeared.

www.smh.com.au