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The dual brother of a 74-year-old Australian man on trial for the homicide of his first spouse 40 years in the past advised that his brother’s second spouse is the actual murderer. Chris Dawson is accused of the 1982 disappearance and presumed homicide of his spouse Lynette Dawson, with whom he had two kids.
Dawson went on to marry the couple’s babysitter, identified in courtroom solely as J.C., who was additionally a scholar on the faculty the place he taught and with whom he had a baby. Prosecutors are attempting to show that Dawson killed his spouse to conduct an “unfettered relationship” with the babysitter. The 2 married in 1984 and separated six years later.
Thursday, the courtroom heard from Dawson’s twin brother Paul, who stated his second sister-in-law had motive to “do away with” his first sister-in-law and had, in reality, as soon as threatened to take action. “If Lyn had been murdered, J.C. had the motive, J.C. had extra to achieve and J.C. did acquire greater than Chris ever gained from their relationship,” Paul Dawson informed the courtroom.
The defendant’s twin additionally recalled for the courtroom a dialog he had with household pal Elva McBay, based on ABC Australia Information. McBay, who didn't testify in particular person, had informed Paul Dawson that the lacking spouse, whose physique has by no means been discovered, was as soon as confronted by the babysitter. Upset, Lynette Dawson informed her how the babysitter threatened her that if she “bought in her approach” she would “do away with her.”
The courtroom earlier heard from a pal of Lynette Dawson who recalled how her husband Chris Dawson had “gripped her throat” whereas they had been in an elevator on the way in which to couples counseling. The pal, Annette Leary, informed the courtroom that “If this doesn’t work, I’m eliminating you.” Different pals testified seeing abrasions on Lynette Dawson’s arms within the weeks earlier than she went lacking.
Chris Dawson insists his spouse left the household on her personal accord, and that she is probably going nonetheless alive.
The courtroom additionally heard an intercepted dialog between the dual brothers wherein Paul stated, “You’re not the form of particular person to do that. Anyone who is aware of you is aware of that,” Paul might be informed telling his brother. “If anybody had a motive, [J.C.] had a motive,” based on reporters within the courtroom.
Paul Dawson additionally testified how J.C. handled the older kids (who she had as soon as babysat) badly, refusing to choose them up from faculty whereas coddling the kid she had with the now homicide suspect.“She made Chris and Lynette’s daughters put their laundry in a unique basket,” he informed the courtroom. “They needed to get out of the pool if her daughter needed to go in.” He additionally stated that the babysittter-turned-second-wife would pull the older daughter’s hair whereas brushing it so tightly “their scalps would bleed.”
J.C. testified in courtroom that in reality her husband wouldn't enable her to self-discipline the women she used to babysit. “I used to be solely allowed to deal with them like little princesses,” she informed the courtroom, based on press reviews. “If I did self-discipline them, he would self-discipline me, and so they got here to see that I actually had no authority.” She has not been accused of any crime.
She beforehand informed the courtroom that Dawson had abused her as effectively. “He groomed me and abused me and insisted that I marry him,” she stated.
The trial is anticipated to proceed for a number of weeks.