Chris Dawson, 74, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for murdering his first wife Lynette in 1982.
The judge-only trial at the NSW Supreme Court saw the Crown argue that Chris Dawson killed Lynette to facilitate an “unfettered relationship” with the family’s teenage babysitter, JC, whom he later married.
Justice Ian Harrison today said the murder was an “objectively very serious crime”.
“Lynette Dawson was faultless and undeserving of her fate,” the judge said, adding that the fact Lyn’s body has never been located has been an aggravating circumstance.
“Despite the deteriorating state of her marriage to Mr Dawson she was undoubtedly also completely unsuspecting.”
He sentenced Dawson to a maximum 24 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 18 years. This will see him eligible for parole in August 2040.
During the trial, the former teacher’s legal team argued Lynette walked out on the family after her trust was broken due to his behaviour with JC.
“Mr Dawson is not old by contemporary standards, but the reality is he will not live to reach the end of his non-parole period, or will alternatively, by reason of his deteriorating cognitive condition and physical capacity, become seriously disabled before then even if he does,” Justice Harrison said of the sentencing.
“I recognise that the unavoidable prospect is that Mr Dawson will probably die in jail.”
Image: The Teacher’s Pet
