Family’s plea after killer husband jailed: Call her Lynette Simms

Lynette Dawson’s family has asked that she be referred to by her maiden name after her killer husband was on Friday sentenced over her murder.

Refer to her as Lynette Simms.

That’s the simple plea from the grieving family of the murdered nurse and mother-of-two after her killer husband Chris Dawson was on Friday jailed for 24 years.

On the steps of Sydney’s Supreme Court, Lynette’s brother, Greg Simms, declared he and the rest of Lynette’s family were ready to get on with their lives, with Dawson’s sentencing the final chapter in a long and painful saga.

Chris Dawson, 74, was told he will likely spend the rest of his life in jail after he was sentenced to a maximum of 24 years behind bars for his wife’s murder in January 1982.

Chris Dawson was on Friday sentenced to 24 years in jail. Picture NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard.

Lynette Simms, with daughter Shanelle, was murdered by her husband in 1982.

Mr Simms asked that his sister be referred to by her maiden name, which she used until she married Dawson as a 21-year-old in March 1970.

“From today on, we would like her to be known as Lynette Joy Simms,” Mr Simms said.

“No sentence is long enough for taking someone’s life. We respect and thank Judge (Ian) Harrison for his sentence.

“We hope Chris Dawson lives a long life in order to serve that sentence.”

Greg Simms, and members of the Simms family, speak to the media after the sentencing of Chris Dawson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short.

Justice Ian Harrison found that Ms Simms was murdered inside her Bayview home on Sydney’s northern beaches on or about January 8, 1982, when she was last seen.

However, he noted the evidence did not reveal how she was murdered or whether Chris had the assistance of others.

Nor was it known where she had been buried.

The NSW government earlier this year passed tough new “no body, no parole” laws which have been dubbed “Lyn’s law”.

The Simms family has long pleaded with Chris to reveal where Lynette’s body had been dumped.

“We really didn’t believe this day would ever come,” Mr Simms said.

“What we need now is to find Lyn and to put her to rest. It’s our time to begin living our lives without this hanging over our heads.

“Chris Dawson has had years of freedom. Now it’s our turn.”

Dawson will first be eligible for parole in August 2040, by which time he will be 92 years old.

Mr Simms said he didn’t expect Dawson to reveal Lynette’s final resting place.

“I don’t think he’ll reveal it at all,” Mr Simms said.

“I believe he’ll just stay blank-faced like he was today.”