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

[drsleuth]

Judge in Chris Dawson’s murder trial says he’s in the dark on how to use evidence of wife’s alleged injuries, court hears

Justice Ian Harrison tells court evidence of Lynette Dawson seen bruised did not point to who caused injuries

www.theguardian.com

Kerry Stantscheff, a nurse, gave evidence on Friday of a blond-haired woman working alongside her at the Rockcastle hospital in Curl Curl, Sydney in the 1980s.

Stantscheff said the woman looked vaguely familiar but could not confirm whether it was Lynette Dawson.
ps://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/24/judge-in-chris-dawsons-trial-says-hes-in-the-dark-on-how-to-use-evidence-of-wifes-alleged-injuries-court-hears

 

[Bats]

“In my perception, there are no bright lights shining in this area." The judge overseeing Chris Dawson's murder trial has asked for assistance in dealing with the case's "dark and dingy" evidence.

Dawson evidence dark and dingy, judge says

The judge overseeing Chris Dawson's murder trial has asked for assistance in dealing with the case's "dark and dingy" evidence.

www.aapnews.com.au

The judge overseeing Christopher Michael Dawson's murder trial has questioned how he should use a multitude of evidence in the case which implied a violent and abusive marriage.

On Friday, Justice Ian Harrison mentioned that testimony and statements in the case claimed Lynette Dawson had been seen with bruises or black eyes, but did not actually point to who caused those injuries.

“In my perception, there are no bright lights shining in this area. It’s all a bit dark and dingy and I might need some particular help," he said.

I think the judge may be making sure all bases are covered in thinking of an appeal...the judge will want to make sure himself that there are no leaky holes in his verdict.
MOO

 

[Bats]

DBM

 

[musicaljoke]

I'm guessing Chris Dawson might be a bit more anxious knowing the judge just heard that.

Can CD brush it off with a, "Yeah, but I was only kidding."?

Does anyone have any doubts about why Lynette had trouble conceiving? :/

 

[Eaglette]

I haven't had a minute to listen to it yet but, thought I'd pop the link up:
Episode 7 is up The Teachers Trial:

‎The Teacher's Trial: Episode 7 - Fruit Barn on Apple Podcasts

A retired cop makes an explosive revelation that an unverified and fleeting purported sighting of Lyn Dawson at a fruit barn closed down the first homicide investigation in the early 1990s.

The court hears investigative files were left to decay in a damp storage facility, never to be found again.

An author and confidante of family babysitter `JC’ speaks of her motivations for writing a book about her friend’s saga with Chris and Lyn Dawson, and her transition from student to teenage bride and “sex slave”.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

I haven't had a minute to listen to it yet but, thought I'd pop the link up:
Episode 7 is up The Teachers Trial:

‎The Teacher's Trial: Episode 7 - Fruit Barn on Apple Podcasts

A retired cop makes an explosive revelation that an unverified and fleeting purported sighting of Lyn Dawson at a fruit barn closed down the first homicide investigation in the early 1990s.

The court hears investigative files were left to decay in a damp storage facility, never to be found again.

An author and confidante of family babysitter `JC’ speaks of her motivations for writing a book about her friend’s saga with Chris and Lyn Dawson, and her transition from student to teenage bride and “sex slave”.

Have listened to about half of it thus far.

The former policeman, Ian 'Speed' Kennedy, wouldn't have a bar of Chris Dawson's claim that Kennedy had told him Lyn was 'safe and well in NZ.'

Another Dawson fib that has come back to bite him.

Although it will be an anti-climax when the judge takes weeks or even months to hand down his verdict, on the plus side is it will come with an explanation as to why he came about it and that will make for interesting reading, guilty or otherwise. Either way, I doubt he will have much positive to say about Chris Dawson.

 

[DRT]

Have listened to about half of it thus far.

The former policeman, Ian 'Speed' Kennedy, wouldn't have a bar of Chris Dawson's claim that Kennedy had told him Lyn was 'safe and well in NZ.'

Another Dawson fib that has come back to bite him.

Although it will be an anti-climax when the judge takes weeks or even months to hand down his verdict, on the plus side is it will come with an explanation as to why he came about it and that will make for interesting reading, guilty or otherwise. Either way, I doubt he will have much positive to say about Chris Dawson.

I agree. While we haven't heard whether Chris Dawson will take the stand you can just see that his credibility in questioning wouldn't be high particularly if you compare it to his 1982 antecedent report and the 1991 interview.

I suspect that this case is going to set some legal precedent for future cases of circumstantial evidence. The judge is already seeking advice as to the bruises. With the long period of time and the number of deceased witnesses the explanation and what is accepted as evidence in his decision is going to be telling.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Update from The Australian :

Investigative journalist Hedley Thomas will be called on Monday by the crown at the request of the defence in connection to his 2018 hit podcast The Teacher’s Pet.

Standby for a concerted defence attack.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

MSN

Crikey.

With The Teacher’s Pet podcast accused of contaminating evidence in Christopher Michael Dawson’s murder trial, its author is set to step into the witness box on Monday.

Hedley Thomas, an investigative journalist at The Australian, published The Teacher’s Pet in 2018. The podcast is claimed to have racked up millions of views worldwide and netted Thomas a Walkley award.

Throughout the long-running trial for the murder of his wife Lynette, Dawson’s legal counsel have claimed that testimony given by many crown witnesses was tainted by the well-known podcast

 

[TootsieFootsie]

SNAP

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Hedley Thomas arriving this morning for what will surely be a fierce grilling from the defence :

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Update from today :

Teacher's Pet podcaster sought justice - Australian Associated Press

Hedley Thomas, the journalist behind The Teacher's Pet podcast, has said he sought justice for Lynette Dawson who was allegedly murdered in January 1982.

www.aap.com.au

 

[TootsieFootsie]

'No credence' in Lyn Dawson sightings: Thomas

Welcome to live coverage of the trial of Chris Dawson for the alleged murder of his wife Lynette.

amp.theaustralian.com.au

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Teacher's Pet podcaster sought justice - Australian Associated Press

Hedley Thomas, the journalist behind The Teacher's Pet podcast, has said he sought justice for Lynette Dawson who was allegedly murdered in January 1982.

www.aap.com.au

Former detective Damian Loone who examined the disappearance of Mrs Dawson from 1998 to 2015, also appeared in court and rejected claims he manipulated evidence because he believed she was murdered.

He told Justice Ian Harrison he believed there had been an inadequate investigation into the disappearance before he came on board, but rejected suggestions he had referred to the police officers who previously examined the case as meatheads.

 

[musicaljoke]

Murder probe halted by Lyn Dawson sighting

A possible sighting of Lynette Dawson after her 1982 disappearance led to police suspending their homicide investigation over a decade later.

7news.com.au

A homicide investigation into the 1982 disappearance of Lynette Dawson was called off because police could not disprove claims she had been seen alive and well afterwards.

"I raised the issue of witness testimony and statements of the police that Lynette Dawson had been seen a week after her supposed disappearance, and I was advised that unless we could refute that evidence, the investigation probably shouldn't proceed," he said.

WOW!

It's not hard to call the dogs off. Not hard at all.

... meatheads!

 

[Trooper]

... meatheads!

While Dawson's et al are not coming out of this trial with flying colours, it's a fair bet to claim that the NSW Police,, back then, and certainly for years after were , to put it in the kindest terms, negligent.

Idiotic, criminally negligent, biased, mysogynistic, easily swayed by 'sporting fame'.... in the most puerile way. These are terms your average citizen would tend to lean towards.

 

[musicaljoke]

While Dawson's et al are not coming out of this trial with flying colours, it's a fair bet to claim that the NSW Police,, back then, and certainly for years after were , to put it in the kindest terms, negligent.

Idiotic, criminally negligent, biased, mysogynistic, easily swayed by 'sporting fame'.... in the most puerile way. These are terms your average citizen would tend to lean towards.

Do I remember correctly, that in one of the videos, CD says something to the effect that he "has friends in the police force"? I can't find the comment now, but back when I heard him say that, it struck me as an attempt to manipulate the police toward dropping the investigation.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Update from The Australian this morning :

Hedley Thomas will resume his evidence today at the trial of former teacher Chris Dawson for the alleged murder of his wife Lynette.

 

[Via Marple]

David asked: “Clearly, the only person you were pursuing was Chris Dawson as the perpetrator of that crime?”

“I don’t see it as a pursuit, I was trying to tell as full a story as I could. He was the only suspect [of whom] I was aware,” Thomas replied.

Journalist denies campaign to incite prejudice against Chris Dawson

Hedley Thomas was questioned in court about his investigation into the disappearance of northern beaches mother-of-two Lynette Dawson and podcast, The Teacher’s Pet.

www.smh.com.au

It is not easy to trick a veteran journalist with mere words.

Which part of the podcast does Defence think was inaccurate? That should be the point.

 

[Trooper]

David asked: “Clearly, the only person you were pursuing was Chris Dawson as the perpetrator of that crime?”

“I don’t see it as a pursuit, I was trying to tell as full a story as I could. He was the only suspect [of whom] I was aware,” Thomas replied.

Journalist denies campaign to incite prejudice against Chris Dawson

Hedley Thomas was questioned in court about his investigation into the disappearance of northern beaches mother-of-two Lynette Dawson and podcast, The Teacher’s Pet.

www.smh.com.au

It is not easy to trick a veteran journalist with mere words.

Which part of the podcast does Defence think was inaccurate? That should be the point.

From Dawson's own mouth, and no one else's, he is the only person who voiced a desire to get rid of his wife. No one else wanted to. Only Dawson. Only Dawson scouted around actually asking colleagues, and friends. No one else had a motive, not even Joanne, who needed Lynn to return so she didn't have to take on Lynn's kids.

Only Dawson benefited from Lynn's disappearance. No one else did. His girls didn't. Joanne certainly didn't. Her family didn't. Only Dawson financially gained. And gained a lot. Only Dawson had charge of Lynn's 'story', which he edited to suit his narrative for years.

So it's a reasonable thing for Hedley, certainly the police could have done the same, to pursue Dawson. There is no one else at all who benefited from Lynn's death.