Chris Dawson’s ex-schoolmate denies key claim about missing wife

One of Chris Dawson’s former schoolmates has been grilled in court over one key claim in relation to his missing wife.

A former cop has denied telling his ex-schoolmate Chris Dawson that his missing wife was living well in New Zealand.

Chris Dawson is standing trial in the NSW Supreme Court where he has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Lynette, who went missing from their Sydney northern beaches home 40 years ago.

The former teacher’s lawyers have argued that she was seen on several occasions in and around Sydney since she went missing on January 8, 1982, and ran away of her own volition.

Her body has never been found and she has never contacted any of her friends and family – including her two children – since she vanished.

Chris Dawson has argued his former wife Lynette was seen several times after going missing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Former police officer Ian Kennedy told the court that he never told Chris Dawson that his wife was in New Zealand. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

During a police interview in Queensland in 1991, Mr Dawson told detectives there had been several sightings of Ms Dawson reported to him.

He claimed that during a 1985 Sydney Boys High School reunion, a former schoolmate, Ian Kennedy, who was at the time with the NSW Police drug squad, had told him that Ms Dawson was living in New Zealand.

“We were sitting having a conversation and he said to me he’d heard that she was in New Zealand,” Mr Dawson said in the interview.

However, in giving evidence in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday, Mr Kennedy denied having that conversation.

“That’s incorrect – I had no information at all about Lyn Dawson’s appearance in New Zealand or anywhere,” Mr Kennedy said.

Chris and Lynette Dawson on their wedding day. Picture: Supplied

Mr Kennedy said he had been to New Zealand in his role with NSW Police, but it had nothing to do with the search for Ms Dawson.

During his police interview, Mr Dawson claimed Mr Kennedy was affected by alcohol at the 1985 reunion.

“In combination of being at a reunion and affected by alcohol, having a good relationship with Chris, you said, ‘Look mate, she’s OK, she’s in New Zealand’,” Mr Dawson’s lawyer Greg Walsh asked.

“I dispute being affected by alcohol,” Mr Kennedy said.

“But I had nothing to do with any inquiry with Lynette Dawson.”

The court has been told that several former Dawson family friends and extended family members claimed to have spotted Ms Dawson around Sydney and the Central Coast since she vanished.

The Dawsons’ former Bayview neighbours, Peter and Jill Breese, claimed they both saw Ms Dawson working as a nurse at a Curl Curl hospital in June 1984.

Ray Butlin told the court his late wife Sue had told him of seeing Ms Dawson at a roadside fruit barn.

Mr Dawson’s brother-in-law Ross Hutcheon told the court that he had seen Ms Dawson about three to six months after she had disappeared at a Gladesville bus stop.

However, the former officer in charge of the investigation, Damian Loone, on Friday told the court that those sightings had turned out to be false and there were no government records of Ms Dawson being alive after January 1982.

Elva McBay told the court that she believed she saw Ms Dawson at a royal parade in 1983. Picture: 7 NEWS

The court was told on Monday that Dawson family friend Elva McBay believed she saw Ms Dawson during a royal parade for Prince Charles and Princess Diana in Sydney on March 28, 1983.

Ms McBay was 101 years old when she gave evidence to the Downing Centre Local Court in February 2020 however had since died.

The court was played video of her testimony during which she said she was with her husband on Macquarie St when she saw a woman run across the road just before the royal procession’s arrival.

Ms McBay was a lifelong Newtown Jets fan and got to know Mr Dawson and his twin brother Paul during their time playing for the club.

She said she was standing outside the Sydney Hospital when she saw a woman go past her.

The court has previously been told that Ms Dawson was a registered nurse.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles during their royal tour of Sydney in 1983. Picture: News Corp

In a statement, Ms McBay said: “About the time Prince Charles’ and Princess Diana’s car was approaching us, a lady came from behind.

“I think she had come from the hospital grounds. The lady was about six to eight people to my left.

“The lady ducked under the barricades and ran in front of a car and ran across to the other side of the road.

“I turned to my husband and said to him, ‘I think that was Lynette Dawson’. The lady was too quick, I could not confirm it was Lynette.”

The trial continues.

Originally published as Chris Dawson’s ex-schoolmate denies key claim about missing wife