Lynette Dawson’s brother Greg Simms and his wife Merilyn Simms speak to the media after the verdict.

Lynette Dawson’s brother Greg Simms and his wife Merilyn Simms speak to the media after the verdict.Credit:Kate Geraghty

Dawson’s legal team said they were weighing up a bail application ahead of a sentence date,and indicated an intention to appeal.

The Crown had alleged Dawson killed his wife and disposed of her body,possibly with assistance,to have an unfettered relationship with his daughters’ babysitter and his former student,known as JC.

The defence had argued that it was possible Lynette “abandoned the home of her own accord”,but the judge concluded - on the wholly circumstantial case - that Lynette died on or about January 8,1982 and “did not leave her home voluntarily”.

Advertisement

Dawson had always claimed he dropped Lynette off at a Mona Vale bus stop to go shopping on January 9,but instead of meeting him at the Northbridge Baths later that day,she had called to say she “needed time away”.

Harrison said he was unable to accept that Dawson’s version of events that afternoon “could reasonably be true”. He was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Dawson had lied about receiving a call to the pool,and found the reported calls after that date were also lies.

He said Dawson had conceded to police that being the only one to hear from Lynette was “extremely strange”.

The judge said it was “simply absurd” and “defies common sense” that a woman determined to disappear would then allegedly contact the very person claimed to be the reason for her departure.

He said there was scant evidence that Lynette had funds to start a new life and the evidence “powerfully” suggested she had a strong maternal bond with her daughters.

JC told the trial that Dawson would leave love notes in her schoolbag,signing some off as “God” to disguise himself. Harrison said Dawson had a “possessive infatuation” with the teenager,whom he later married in 1984 before their separation in 1990.

JC briefly moved into Dawson’s home during her HSC year in late 1981 but moved out after she said she was confronted by Lynette who said,“you’ve been taking liberties with my husband”.

Shortly before Christmas 1981,Dawson and JC left Sydney intending to start a new life together in Queensland,before the teenager wanted to return. By that time,Dawson considered his marriage to be in a “state of incipient failure”,the judge said.

“I am satisfied that Lynette Dawson did not share that view and remained hopeful until as late as January 8,1982,that the marriage could be resurrected,” Harrison said.

The judge found that,on the evidence,Dawson had collected JC from her holiday at South West Rocks before January 12 and moved her into his home at Bayview,“by which time Lynette Dawson was no longer there”.

JC had claimed that,in late 1981,Dawson had parked his car outside a building while she waited inside wearing her school uniform. She alleged he later told her,“I went inside to get a hitman to kill Lyn,but then I decided I couldn’t do it because innocent people could be hurt”.

The judge was not satisfied Dawson had ever spoken of such a contemplation,and further rejected evidence from former Jets player Robert Silkman who claimed Dawson had asked him on the plane back from an end-of-season trip in 1975 “if he knew anyone who could get rid of his wife”.

The defence had relied on several reported sightings of Lynette,including at a Central Coast fruit shop,outside Gladesville Hospital,on Macquarie Street in the city during a royal visit in 1983 and at the former Rockcastle Hospital in 1984. The judge did not believe any of them to be genuine.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights.Sign up here.

Most Viewed in National

Loading