The Crown alleges on or about January 8 that year,Dawson alone or with another person or persons murdered his wife and,possibly with assistance,disposed of her body at an unknown location.
In his opening address on Monday,prosecutor Craig Everson,SC,said Dawson’s wife was “not able” to have children at the same time as her husband’s twin brother,Paul,and his wife.
“That,the Crown contends,caused a level of animosity by the accused to Lynette Dawson,” he said.
He said in 1975,Dawson had travelled to the Gold Coast for an end-of-season holiday with his Newtown Jets rugby league team. On the return flight,he allegedly approached Robert Silkman,who he knew through football and who had “some admitted criminal connections”.
“The Crown alleges that the accused asked Mr Silkman if he knew someone who could get rid of his wife,” Everson said. “That is a matter that went no further at that time.”
In 1980,Dawson allegedly became “infatuated” with a female student at the high school where he was teaching,developed a sexual relationship with her and repeatedly asked her to marry him.