‘Get rid of his wife’: What Chris Dawson allegedly said to teammate

The allegation that Chris Dawson asked a Newtown Jets teammate about finding someone to “get rid of his wife” has been tested in court.

It’s one of the key claims in the Chris Dawson trial – that the former Newtown Jets player had approached teammate Robert Silkman during a 1975 end-of-season trip and inquired about finding someone to “get rid” of his wife.

On Friday, a key player in the episode – Ray Lee – told the NSW Supreme Court that he could not remember the aftermath of the alleged incident but says he was made aware of it by Mr Silkman in the coming years.

Mr Dawson’s trial has entered its closing stages as the former professional rugby league player fights allegations he murdered his wife Lynette and disposed of her body in January 1982.

One of the prosecution’s star witnesses, Mr Silkman, has previously told the court that on a Jets end-of-season trip to the Gold Coast in October 1975 he was approached by Mr Dawson.

The incident is alleged to have occurred seven years before Ms Dawson went missing from her Bayview home on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Mr Silkman said they were on the return flight to Sydney when Mr Dawson knelt next to him in the aisle and asked whether he knew anyone “who could get rid of his wife”.

It’s a claim that has been denied by Mr Dawson’s defence, who have pointed to Mr Silkman’s criminal convictions, accusing him of being a serial liar and only being interested in a $200,000 reward.

Mr Silkman denied he made the allegation for financial reward.

Chris Dawson has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Chris Dawson in his playing days with the Newtown Jets. Picture: Supplied

Mr Silkman said immediately following his conversation with Mr Dawson, he relayed it to clubmate Ray Lee, who was sitting in the seat next to him.

“I said to Ray Lee, ‘You wouldn’t believe what Chris just said to me’,” Mr Silkman told the court last week.

“And he said, ‘What?’ I was laughing and said, ‘He wanted to know if I could get someone to get rid of his wife’.

“I think Ray’s reaction was ‘what?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, he’s gone mad’.”

Mr Lee on Friday corroborated many of Mr Silkman’s recollections of the trip – that they had stayed at the Tiki Village in Surfers Paradise and watched the Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier “Thrilla In Manilla” fight at a beer garden.

However, he said he could not remember Mr Dawson or his twin brother Paul on the trip.

Nor did he have any recollections of sitting next to Mr Silkman on the plane ride home.

“Do you have any recollection of Chris Dawson on this flight walking down the aisle and approaching Robert Silkman at all?” Mr Dawson’s solicitor Greg Walsh asked.

“No, I don’t,” Mr Lee said.

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

Chris Dawson’s former Newtown Jets teammate Ray Lee says he could not remember a key incident on a club end-of-season trip. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Asked if he would have recalled being relayed that conversation, Mr Lee said he probably would have, given its seriousness.

“Yeah, you would think so, depending on what condition I was in … By that, I mean if we had been drinking beer or booze,” Mr Lee said.

He said he had spoken with Mr Silkman about the alleged conversation several times over the last several decades and his friend had asked whether he remembered it.

Mr Lee, who is now in his late 60s, told the court that Mr Silkman had raised the issue when they were in their 20s.

He said it had been discussed on several occasions following the publication of the Teacher’s Pet podcast, but it was first raised in the 1970s.

“I’d say we were in our 20s,” Mr Lee said, when asked when Mr Silkman had initially raised the alleged conversation.

Robert Silkman claims he was approached by Chris Dawson on a flight from the Gold Coast. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Mr Silkman told Justice Ian Harrison, who is hearing the judge-alone trial, that he was friends with his Newtown Jets teammate Paul Hayward, who was the brother-in-law of infamous criminal Arthur “Neddy” Smith.

Smith was a notorious gangland figure and associate of disgraced cop Roger Rogerson.

Mr Silkman told the court that he had drank with Smith at a pub alongside Hayward.

On Friday, Mr Walsh asked Mr Lee whether Mr Silkman was a “big-noter”.

“I didn’t see that from him personally, other people might think that, but I didn’t really see that,” Mr Lee said.

Mr Lee added that he knew of Smith but never saw him in Mr Silkman’s presence.

Detective Senior Constable Mark O’Reilly told the court on Friday that he was working at an event at Qudos Bank Arena in September 2018 when he discussed with Mr Silkman the alleged plane conversation with Mr Dawson.

Constable O’Reilly told the court that Mr Silkman told him that Mr Dawson had said “words to the effect of ‘do you know how to get rid of my wife’ or similar”.

“Has the topic of a reward been discussed between you and Mr Silkman,” Crown prosecutor Craig Everson asked.

“No,” Constable O’Reilly said.

The court was told on Friday that the Crown prosecution would close its case on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

The trial continues.