FIJI - Christe Chen Dawson, 39, Memphis Pharmacist murdered on honeymoon, Yasawa Islands, 9 July 2022 ** Husband Arrest**

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Blondie in Spokane said:
www.dailymail.co.uk

Husband accused of murdering pharmacist wife in Fiji pleads NOT guilty

Bradly Dawson, 39, from Tennessee, appeared in the High Court in Lautoka over the killing of Christe Chen, 36, on July 9 to deny the charges on Wednesday.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk
Click to expand...
From the link dated 8/31/22:

Dawson indicated on Wednesday morning in the court in Fiji he would plead not guilty to murder.

Defense lawyer Iqbal Khan also argued before Judge Riyaz Hamza his client had not confessed to the murder allegations.

The bail hearing is ongoing as State counsel Alvin Singh reminded the court domestic violence situation forces Fijian court to not favor bail.

Meanwhile Dawson has asked the court through his lawyers to be released into the home and care of fellow US citizen John Beiger.

Beiger, a pastor who has a home in Legalega has lived in Fiji since 2011. He faces at least three counts of rape and had spent two weeks in Natabua Remand Centre.

Earlier in proceedings, the lawyers argued over whether Chen's family lawyer could appear on her behalf to ensure justice was served.

According to the summary of facts drawn up by police, Dawson initially confessed to the offence but remained silent after he sought legal advice.

A post mortem examination conducted on Ms Chen confirmed she died from traumatic brain injury as a result of severe traumatic head injuries which were caused by blunt force trauma to the head. She also suffered multiple other traumatic injuries to the rest of her body.
 
Blondie in Spokane said:
www.dailymail.co.uk

Husband accused of murdering pharmacist wife in Fiji pleads NOT guilty

Bradly Dawson, 39, from Tennessee, appeared in the High Court in Lautoka over the killing of Christe Chen, 36, on July 9 to deny the charges on Wednesday.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk
Click to expand...
I'm angry at BD.
Imo, it was not an accident and no one else hurt her.
Iirc, he initially admitted guilt before he had time to think it over ?
What an insult to Christe's parents.
:mad:
Multiple traumatic injuries sounds like he continued to beat her, long after she no longer put up any resistance, if she did fight back at all.
It's going to be difficult to portray this as an unfortunate accident, and that when he walked out of their bungalow, she was alive -- according to him.
I still think he knew she was dead and fled out of cowardice.
If he did that, he needs to admit his guilt and take his lumps and be a man.

Graphic :



If she suffered multiple traumatic injuries, I wonder if he used anything else on her ?
The reports from earlier links indicated the lid of the toilet tank was cracked or broken ?
That would be bashing injuries, as in heavy bruising and maybe broken bones ?
But what else ?
I'd imagine the coroner would know if anything else was used to hurt Christe ?
It's scary to think besides being in a rage, he might have enjoyed (sorry, sounds sickening, but other crimes covered here at WS show people can be monstrous) hurting someone ?

My .02.
 
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www.dailymail.co.uk

Tennessee man accused of killing bride on Fiji honeymoon denied bail

Bradley Dawson, 39, appeared in the High Court in Fiji's second-largest city, Lautoka, on Wednesday afternoon, and was denied bail by Judge Riyaz Hamza.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk

9/14/22

The newlywed husband accused of murdering his pharmacist wife in their honeymoon bungalow on an exclusive private Island in Fiji has been denied bail awaiting trial.

Bradley Dawson, 39, appeared in the High Court in Lautoka on Wednesday afternoon (local time).

He is accused of killing Christe Chen, 36, on July 9.
 
RSBM. Birds of a feather.... MOO.
Seattle1 said:
Meanwhile Dawson has asked the court through his lawyers to be released into the home and care of fellow US citizen John Beiger.

Beiger, a pastor who has a home in Legalega has lived in Fiji since 2011. He faces at least three counts of rape and had spent two weeks in Natabua Remand Centre.
Click to expand...
 
PhoebeTries said:
RSBM. Birds of a feather.... MOO.
Click to expand...
A pastor facing not one , but three charges of rape ?
Yes, he sounds fine, let BD go and stay with him.
*sarcasm intended*

On the other hand, BD needs to stay right where he is.
So what if it's uncomfortable, or the other prisoners are threatening, or whatever his complaint may be ?
Smh.
My .02.
 
www.dailymail.co.uk

Fiji honeymoon 'killer' say cops unjustly questioned him about murder

Memphis man Bradley Dawson, 39, is accused of beating to death his wife Christe Chen, 39, on July 9 at a secluded $3,500-a-night resort just two days after they checked in for their honeymoon.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk

9/26/22

The newlywed husband accused of murdering his wife in their honeymoon bungalow on an exclusive private island in Fiji has challenged the ‘quality’ of the police evidence against him at a court hearing today.

[..]

Dawson appeared at the High Court in Lautoka on Monday morning local time where his lawyer told Judge Riyaz Hamza that his client’s constitutional rights may have been breached.

The lawyer, Iqbal Khan, also questioned the admissibility of a caution interview done by police after his arrest in July. He has now applied for what is known as a voir dire hearing - or, a trial within a trial - which has been scheduled for October 19.

Dawson, who has pleaded not guilty to Chen’s murder, will make a fresh bid for bail later this week after his initial application was denied on September 14 after the judge ruled that it was unsuitable for him to stay with an American man who is facing rape charges in Fiji.

Meanwhile, lawyers acting on behalf of Chen’s family told DailyMail.com that her parents were ‘euphoric’ that he was refused bail. Ronald Gordon of Gordon & Co said the family understood resource constraints faced by investigators in Fiji and said they would wait to see justice carried out.
 
Trying to walk it back, now ?
Grrr....
If I remember correctly, BD freely offered this initial information.
It's not like he was mistreated or threatened until he confessed ?
I think often about Christe's parents losing their babygirl.
May there be the harshest justice allowed for Christe !!!!
If BD is ever released, what if another woman makes him upset ?
I don't want to see anyone else suffer what she went through.
My .02.
 
Erutan said:
Trying to walk it back, now ?
Grrr....
If I remember correctly, BD freely offered this initial information.
It's not like he was mistreated or threatened until he confessed ?
I think often about Christe's parents losing their babygirl.
May there be the harshest justice allowed for Christe !!!!
If BD is ever released, what if another woman makes him upset ?
I don't want to see anyone else suffer what she went through.
My .02.
Click to expand...
I'm sure his lawyer is just doing his job but it seems the majority of cases I'm following in both state and federal court are spending more time in suppression of evidence hearings than any other challenge. The stress on these families must be incredible. o_O

I also understood Dawson freely confessed and it was only AFTER he talked to a lawyer that he had second thoughts. And even if his confession is suppressed, I trust the circumstantial evidence here is overwhelming.
 
Seattle1 said:
I'm sure his lawyer is just doing his job but it seems the majority of cases I'm following in both state and federal court are spending more time in suppression of evidence hearings than any other challenge. The stress on these families must be incredible. o_O

I also understood Dawson freely confessed and it was only AFTER he talked to a lawyer that he had second thoughts. And even if his confession is suppressed, I trust the circumstantial evidence here is overwhelming.
Click to expand...
Agreed.
Also, the chances of a random stranger attacking Christe in that location are absurd.
It's pricey (lots of cameras for security) and the guests are pampered as part of the package.
So, staff on hand to accommodate special requests, a butler when needed, etc.
The management knows who is on the island , and also when the guests themselves are out and about.
 
www.foxnews.com

Fiji honeymoon murder: Judge delays hearing on Bradley Dawson's alleged confession in Christe Chen slaying

A judge postponed a ruling on whether Bradley Dawson's alleged confession is admissible in court in the death of his wife Christe Chen on their Fiji honeymoon.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com

9/26/22

Tennessee IT worker Bradley Dawson returned to the Lautoka High Court in Fiji Monday as his defense contests unsigned statements he allegedly made to police after his July arrest in the murder of his new wife Christe Chen on their honeymoon.

Dawson is accused of beating Chen to death at the five-star Turtle Island Resort, which is located on a scenic private island.

Prosecutors allege he confessed to the crime in what Fiji authorities call a "caution interview." However, Dawson never signed the statement, and his attorney, Iqbal Khan, maintains his innocence and is asking the court to throw out the document.

"An unsigned interview is not admissible," Khan argued in court.

Judge Riyaz Hamdi grilled Khan on that stance and asked what would happen if a suspect admitted to a crime but was unable to sign the document.

"What happens if all the accused in cases take up the position that they can't sign?" he asked. "It says that's not admissible?"

"That's the law," Khan replied.
 
This is the most recent information I've found on Dawson's trial. I can't find the actual trial date anywhere, so I wonder if it's been pushed back.

State Finalises Pretrial Documents In Case Of US National

4/6/23

The High Court in Lautoka granted state lawyer, Alvin Singh, time until next month to finalise pretrial conference documents in the case against USA national Bradley Robert Dawson.

Dawson, 38, is charged with one count of murder. He is alleged to have murdered his wife, Christe Chen at the Turtle Island Resort in the Yasawa Islands on July 9, 2022.

The matter was heard before High Court Judge, Justice Riyaz Hamza on Wednesday and Dawson was jointly represented by Iqbal Khan and Anil Prasad of Iqbal Khan and Associates.

The matter was adjourned to May 4 for the pretrial conference hearing and to fix a trial date for the case.
 
And good to see the Court would not accept Dawson's 2nd attempt for bail and his idea of a surety to release him from jail pending trial.

www.fijitimes.com

US national Dawson denied bail

www.fijitimes.com www.fijitimes.com

21 Jan 2023

Dawson who was accused of murdering his wife Christe Chan at a resort in Yasawa last year, has once again been refused bail by the High Court in Lautoka.

High Court judge Justice Riyaz Kamza ruled he could not grant Mr Dawson’s second attempt at bail because of his concerns that the accused was a flight risk, “especially due to the fact that the applicant is a foreign national with sufficient financial means”.

“The applicant has all family and employment ties in the USA and has no family or financial interest in Fiji.

“The other reason this court refused bail was due to the fact that the court was not satisfied with the sureties proposed by the applicant.”

He said one of the sureties, a friend of Mr Dawson, who agreed to act for the accused had no immediate family or friends in Fiji.

“However, even if the court were to be satisfied with both sureties and accept them, the primary concern of the court is that applicant would still be a flight risk.

“This is so due to the fact that he is an American national with sufficient financial means.

“There is absolutely no guarantee that the sureties would able to prevent the applicant from leaving the shores of Fiji if he desires to do so.”
 
bitesizedcrime said:
This is the most recent information I've found on Dawson's trial. I can't find the actual trial date anywhere, so I wonder if it's been pushed back.

State Finalises Pretrial Documents In Case Of US National

4/6/23

The High Court in Lautoka granted state lawyer, Alvin Singh, time until next month to finalise pretrial conference documents in the case against USA national Bradley Robert Dawson.

Dawson, 38, is charged with one count of murder. He is alleged to have murdered his wife, Christe Chen at the Turtle Island Resort in the Yasawa Islands on July 9, 2022.

The matter was heard before High Court Judge, Justice Riyaz Hamza on Wednesday and Dawson was jointly represented by Iqbal Khan and Anil Prasad of Iqbal Khan and Associates.

The matter was adjourned to May 4 for the pretrial conference hearing and to fix a trial date for the case.
Click to expand...
^^bbm

I think about Christe's family often and thank you @bitesizecrime for linking the last update you found for the prosecution of the accused.

While I've not found an online link to search the Lautoka High Court records or calendar by Name (defendant), I did locate the Fiji Judiciary government site where the High Court publishes the "cause list" (docket) but it's only posted "daily" which granted, is better than nothing but it would be good to have some advance notice!

Relative to the delay of any news since the last court date or May 4 pretrial conference from the quoted post, I also found that Judge Riyaz Hamza, who presided over his last hearing, no longer appears as a named Judge on the court site and/or presiding over any cases on the latest cause list for Lautoka High Court. In fact, at this time, the Lautoka High Court only shows two Justices-- and one is an "acting" Judge.

Link to Lautoka High Court: Criminal - judiciary.gov.fj
See the toolbar for the "cause list" (docket).
 
Seattle1 said:
^^bbm

I think about Christe's family often and thank you @bitesizecrime for linking the last update you found for the prosecution of the accused.

While I've not found an online link to search the Lautoka High Court records or calendar by Name (defendant), I did locate the Fiji Judiciary government site where the High Court publishes the "cause list" (docket) but it's only posted "daily" which granted, is better than nothing but it would be good to have some advance notice!

Relative to the delay of any news since the last court date or May 4 pretrial conference from the quoted post, I also found that Judge Riyaz Hamza, who presided over his last hearing, no longer appears as a named Judge on the court site and/or presiding over any cases on the latest cause list for Lautoka High Court. In fact, at this time, the Lautoka High Court only shows two Justices-- and one is an "acting" Judge.

Link to Lautoka High Court: Criminal - judiciary.gov.fj
See the toolbar for the "cause list" (docket).
Click to expand...
Thank you for the link! I will keep an eye on it.

I'm honestly surprised this case hasn't garnered more attention with a US citizen being held in a foreign country on suspicion of murder. Most news sources stopped coverage after BD was arrested.
 
Still, the only link I've found in the Lautoka High-Court is from Jan 20, 2023 when Dawson denied bail. See page 9/9.


ETA: Located 8/21/23 PTC hearing. See pg 3/10:


Hope the pretrial conference reference means a trial is nearing.

Home - judiciary.gov.fj

Welcome to the Judicial Department of Fiji's website, and we are here to protect and advance the principles of justice for our people. We aim to be an independent and impartial Judicial system for The Republic of Fiji.
judiciary.gov.fj judiciary.gov.fj
 
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Seems the case was supposed to be set for Trial following the May 4, 2023 PTC and this did not happen so there's been an obvious delay...

State Finalises Pretrial Documents In Case Of US National

The High Court in Lautoka granted state lawyer, Alvin Singh, time until next month to finalise pretrial conference documents in the case against USA national Bradley Robert Dawson....
fijisun.com.fj fijisun.com.fj
 
These are the latest court updates I can find.

These two documents say "trial" by his name with Hon. Mr. Justice Hamza each day from Feb 12-16 and Feb 19-23. I assume that means his trial went on during that time?
https://judiciary.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lautoka-High-Court-Criminal-02-12-16-2024.pdf
https://judiciary.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lautoka-High-Court-Criminal-02-19-23-2024.pdf

On Feb 28, the judge issued a Voir Dire ruling:
https://judiciary.gov.fj/wp-content...-v-Bradley-Robert-Dawson-Voir-Dire-Ruling.pdf
Perhaps someone with more legal knowledge than I have can take a look, but it seems as though the defense was trying to get BD's interview thrown out, but the judge decided it could be admitted as evidence.

Then there is a huge time jump to this week. Looks like his case is back on the calendar. Could this be for sentencing?
https://judiciary.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Lautoka-High-Court-Criminal-05-27-30-2024.pdf
It says "first call" and "mention" for May 28, which is this Tuesday.
 
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