Chris Dawson denied student sex trial behind closed doors
Convicted wife-killer Chris Dawson is facing trial in the NSW District Court accused of having sex with an underage teenage student.
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Chris Dawson has lost a bid to keep his carnal knowledge trial a secret after his legal team asked to restrict media reporting during the evidence.
Dawson, 74, is facing a judge-alone trial in the NSW District Court accused of engaging in sexual activity with an underage student.
Defence barrister Claire Wasley on Monday asked Judge Sarah Huggett to put in place a non-publication order over the two-week trial until the conclusion of evidence because of the risk of the contamination of witnesses.
The convicted wife killer will fight allegations he had a sexual relationship with one of his teenage students.
The 74-year-old has pleaded not guilty to one count of carnal knowledge, relating to alleged sexual activity with a teenage girl - who can only be known as AB - in the 1980s.
Ms Wasley argued there was the possibility that witnesses could be influenced by other evidence unless a non-publication order was put in place due to widespread media coverage.
“It is submitted that this is an extraordinary case,” Ms Wasley argued.
Barrister Dauid Sibtain SC, appearing for the media, argued: “There is absolutely no evidence that this trial is different from any other trial, except to the extent that it will be reported upon.”
Judge Sarah Huggett questioned why the orders were needed given witnesses are generally given instructions to ignore media reporting.
After a short deliberation, Judge Huggett said she was not satisfied that she should make the orders sought by the defence.
Dawson was sentenced to 24 years in jail last year over the murder of his wife Lynette Simms.
His lawyers have lodged a notice of intention to appeal.
He is now facing a trial in the NSW District Court on separate charges.
The Crown prosecution has alleged Dawson engaged in sexual activities with the student while he was a sports teacher at a high school on Sydney’s northern beaches.
It’s alleged the student was 16 at the time, while Dawson was aged in his 30s.
The trial is expected to run for two weeks.
He was supported in court on Monday by his brother Peter.
The carnal knowledge case will hinge on when Dawson first had sex with the student, with the Crown seeking to prove Dawson was still the girl’s teacher at the time.
Dressed in a green prison tracksuit, Dawson was brought into the court by Corrective Services officers.
The trial before Judge Huggett will begin with opening submissions on Tuesday morning.
Originally published as Chris Dawson denied student sex trial behind closed doors
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