Wife killer Chris Dawson found guilty of abusing former student in 1980s

A judge has returned her verdict on whether wife killer Chris Dawson sexually abused his former student in the 1980s.

Convicted murderer Chris Dawson repeatedly swore as he was found guilty of sexually abusing his former student in the 1980s.

The 74-year-old wife killer faced a judge-alone trial in the NSW District Court after pleading not guilty to carnal knowledge of a girl by a teacher – a historical sexual charge.

Police alleged Dawson was a sports teacher in his 30s at Cromer High School in Sydney’s northern beaches when he began a relationship with the teenager, referred to only as AB, in 1980.

The timing of that relationship was central to the trial because it was only illegal if it began when the girl was 16 and Dawson’s student.

Chris Dawson and his wife Lynette Dawson, whom he killed. Picture: Supplied

Appearing via audio-visual link from Long Bay jail in his prison greens, Dawson put his head in his hands as Judge Sarah Huggett handed down her guilty verdict on Wednesday.

Just before the link was cut, Dawson could be heard muttering “f***k” several times.

Judge Huggett said on the basis of the complainant’s evidence, she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he committed the offence of carnal knowledge.

She noted Dawson had sent AB a Christmas card in 1980 which read: “Happy Christmas. Once or twice every minute. Love always. God” and said the timing of that card was “completely inconsistent” with a romantic relationship only beginning to develop.

The court heard Dawson referred to himself as “God” to disguise their relationship.

Judge Huggett also referenced the evidence of a friend of AB’s who told the court Dawson had shoved and threatened him when he asked AB out on a date in 1980.

Other evidence relied upon was “the fact (Dawson) told (AB) she was beautiful in year 11; the fact she was sitting on his lap in his office in year 11; the fact she was standing between his legs in his office in year 11; the fact that towards the end of year 11 the accused stated he loved the complainant and wanted to marry her”.

Those accounts of intimacy in Dawson’s office were relayed by several witnesses.

Outside court, Lynette Dawson’s nephew, David Jenkins, told journalists he hoped the outcome would help AB “in her healing and to get through what she’s had to go through all these years”.

In regards to Dawson’s reaction in court, Mr Jenkins said the swearing was a “natural reaction for someone who’s been told that — told that he’s spending more time inside (jail) or at least has been found guilty of a second offence”.

Dawson faced a judge-alone trial over the carnal knowledge charge. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Agreeing Dawson looked “defeated,” Mr Jenkins said he seemed “quite upset” throughout the verdict, often hanging his head and wiping his nose.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Huggett conceded parts of AB’s evidence were “unreliable ... confused and at times contradictory,” but she did “not find she was deliberately dishonest”.

“The complainant has consistently denied that the relationship did not occur until 1981 or after the 1980 school year ended,” Judge Huggett said.

Throughout the trial, Dawson’s defence lawyer Claire Wasley did not deny the sexual relationship, but argued it did not begin while the girl was Dawson’s year 11 sports student.

But AB told the court Dawson had his eye from the moment he got his hands on a topless photo of her that had been passed around school and became infatuated.

She said he “jostled” with another teacher to have her in his year 11 sports class.

Once she was in her class, she told the court he began paying her immense attention, leaving her “hundreds” of notes outside class and comforting her about her difficult home life.

The court heard allegations Dawson first abused AB in his parent’s bed in Maroubra in August or September 1980 while the parents were away.

Dawson with his twin brother Paul during his time as a teacher.

Crown prosecutor Emma Blizard submitted the sexual activity continued in his school office, “behind closed doors” during fitness classes ran by Dawson and his twin brother, Paul, and eventually in Dawson’s own home.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard AB once engaged in sexual activity with Dawson in a pool while Paul was up the other end of it with another young girl.

News.com.au does not suggest any criminal wrongdoing by Paul.

AB said he once wrote “pleasure to teach” on her school report card as a “cunning” reference to their sexual activity — evidence Judge Huggett accepted as truthful.

The trial also heard evidence from a former school friend of AB’s, who said the student would go missing during lunch and recess in year 11 and eventually stopped attending out-of-school social events.

But Ms Wasley argued nothing sexual happened between AB and Dawson until she was in year 12 and was no longer his student.

“I suggest that’s something you made up in the witness box just now,” Ms Wasley said, in regards to exactly when the sexual activity first took place.

In response, AB broke down.

“I don’t make things up,” she said through tears.

Sketch of Dawson in court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Vincent de Gouw

“This happened to me and I’m so sick of this, having to justify everything I say … I know it’s just your job, but this is my life, and this happened to me, and I want something done about it”.

Last year, Dawson was sentenced to a maximum of 24 years prison with a non-parole period of 18 years after he was found guilty of murdering his wife, Lynette, in 1982.

During the sentencing, Justice Ian Harrison said Dawson would likely die in jail, as he will be eligible for parole in 2040.

Throughout the high-profile proceedings, Dawson’s legal team argued 33-year-old Lynette walked out on the family after her trust was broken due to her husband’s behaviour.

Dawson’s lawyers have lodged an intention to appeal his murder guilty verdict.

He will next face court for a sentence hearing on September 18.