Chris Dawson left a note after beginning alleged affair with babysitter

Chris Dawson left his wife Lynette and kids behind to move to Queensland with their babysitter — leaving behind this note.

Before her disappearance, Lynette Dawson told her sister that her husband Chris was “angry with her all the time” and thought he needed to see a doctor, a court has been told.

Four decades since Ms Dawson’s disappearance from her Sydney northern beaches home, Chris Dawson is standing trial in the NSW Supreme Court over her alleged murder.

The former teacher and rugby league player has pleaded not guilty, denying killing her and disposing of her body.

His defence has argued that Mr Dawson had no reason to want her to disappear and denied prosecution allegations that he had wanted to hire a hitman.

Chris Dawson says he had no reason to want his wife to disappear. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dylan Coker.

On the second day of evidence on Tuesday, Ms Dawson’s sister Patricia Jenkins told the court she last spoke to Ms Dawson in early January 1982, weeks before she disappeared from her home at Gilwinga Drive, Bayview.

The court has been told that Mr Dawson developed a sexual relationship with a student at a school where he was a teacher.

Prior to Ms Dawson’s disappearance, the girl – who can only be known as JC for legal reasons – moved into their home as a babysitter.

“She was just being typical of Lyn – very open and generous to a young person in need, allowing her to come into her home and to be looked after there,” Ms Jenkins told the court in describing how Ms Dawson reacted to JC moving in.

Chris and Lynette Dawson before her disappearance in 1982. Picture: Troy Bendeich

Dawson left note after leaving for Queensland

The court was told that prior to Christmas 1981, Mr Dawson left with JC to move to Queensland, leaving Ms Dawson with her two young children.

However he returned several days later.

Ms Jenkins told the court that Ms Dawson found out about Mr Dawson leaving when she arrived home to find his clothes and pillow gone and a note on the bed.

“Don’t paint too dark a picture of me to the girls,” the note read, Ms Jenkins said.

Ms Jenkins said when she spoke to her sister prior to Christmas in 1981, Ms Dawson had expressed concern about Mr Dawson’s health because she thought he was often “angry”.

“She said to me he was always so angry with her all the time,” Ms Jenkins said.

“Her descriptive words were ‘his black eyes flashing’. And she thought he needed to go see a doctor to see if it was some physical cause that he would react to her in such an angry way.”

Ms Jenkins said Ms Dawson had told her of one occasion when her sister had attempted to give Mr Dawson a hug however he pushed her away.

Lynnette Dawson's sister Pat Jenkins is giving evidence in Chris Dawson’s trial. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Under cross examination from Mr Dawson’s barrister Pauline David, Ms Jenkins said that following her sister’s disappearance, she had initially held out hope that she would be found alive.

The court was also read excerpts from the diary of Lynette’s mother Helena Simms.

In an entry from January 6, 1981, Ms Simms recounted a Christmas party at her house attended by Mr and Ms Dawson.

The court heard that the entry read: “Chris said again ‘I only want to look after my two little girls!’ I said ‘what about Lyn?’ He said ‘she’s in the kitchen where she belongs!!’.”

Lynette Dawson’s brother Greg Simms. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dylan Coker.

Lynette’s brother Greg Simms told the court of another occasion at his parent’s family home in August 1981 when he heard Mr Dawson say that Ms Dawson “belonged in the kitchen”.

According to Mr Simms, while discussing Ms Dawson, Mr Dawson remarked: “She can get in the bloody kitchen where she belongs.”

Following Ms Dawson’s disappearance, Mr Dawson delivered a bag full of her belongings to her family’s home including clothing, contact lenses and her nurse’s badges.

Chris Dawson and Lynette Dawson in 1966, aged 17 years. Picture: Supplied.

In a dressing gown, Mr Simms found a sales inspection report for the sale of the Dawson family home at Gilwinga Drive.

It had only been signed by Mr Dawson but not Ms Dawson, the court heard.

Mr Simms claimed he had in late 1981 discussed the house with his sister.

“She didn’t want to sell Gilwinga because she was happy at Gilwinga,” Mr Simms said.

Ms David questioned whether Mr Simms had “made up” the claim in recent times.

“You’ve done this to convey Mr Dawson in a poor light,” Ms David asked.

“That’s incorrect,” Mr Simms said.

The trial continues.

Originally published as Chris Dawson left a note after beginning alleged affair with babysitter