Blood found in en suite after police investigated ‘lawn mower accident’

A Royal Australian Air Force pilot has denied strangling his wife in a “murderous rage” before making it look like a late-night lawn mower accident, the Queensland Supreme Court has been told.

In a hearing in Brisbane on Monday morning, the legal team for Robert Crawford, 47, applied for bail, claiming the prosecution case against him was “very weak”.

Mr Crawford stands accused of killing his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford last year. Her body was found by emergency services at the bottom of a retaining wall at a property on Thomas Road in the Upper Lockyer Valley, about 3.30am on July 30.

Frances Crawford’s loved ones described her as a devoted mother to three children, a beloved daughter, sister, friend, dedicated health professional, and a valued member of her church and community.

Mr Crawford’s barrister, Saul Holt, told the court his client left the mower near the retaining wall because he had been charging a battery, which had faulted during the day.

Holt said there was some discussion between the pair about moving the mower because sprinklers were coming on.

Holt referred to messages between the pair where Mrs Crawford asked at 11.21pm: “Hey, are you going to put the mower away soon?” There was a message sent minutes later from Mr Crawford’s phone explaining that the sprinklers could be turned off if easier.

The court heard Mr Crawford claimed he went looking for his wife, only to discover her under the mower.

Holt said that, after multiple attempts, he was able to eventually lift the mower, pull his wife out, and attempt to provide first aid.

Having no previous criminal history, Holt on Monday said his client was an excellent candidate for bail and was “highly motivated” to fight the charge. Mr Crawford’s father had proposed a $250,000 surety for his son.

But Crown Prosecutor Chris Cook told the court Mr Crawford could be seen as a master manipulator, who inflicted emotional torment on his family over a long period of time.

Police said several people sent them information about Robert Crawford after their appeal.

“He is painted as an aggressor on many occasions,” Cook said, adding that Mr Crawford had also admitted to multiple affairs.

Cook said the pilot’s statement was fanciful, painting a picture of a middle-aged woman going out on a cold winter’s night, with no jacket on, to tend to the lawnmower.

A forensic report favoured strangulation as Mrs Crawford’s cause of death, Cook said.

He submitted Mr Crawford should not be granted bail.

“It goes back to the genesis of the crime ... the very essence of his offending is perverting the course of justice, or attempting to do so, by making it look like an accident,” Cook said.

“This man will go to great means to attempt to conceal his crime to escape punishment.”

Cook referenced the message from Mrs Crawford’s phone asking to put the mower away, saying a reasonably instructed jury could accept that Mr Crawford had already strangled her by that stage, and he was manipulating the scene by sending messages from her phone to himself.

“This allows an extended period of time for Mr Crawford to manipulate the scene because he doesn’t call the police for several hours later,” Cook said.

Inside the en suite of the home, there was blood from both Crawfords, the court heard, which Holt said could be explained.

Holt referenced a statement from a senior crimes officer, who attributed the blood’s presence to the fact Mr Crawford had taken a shower after providing first aid to his wife.

Robert Crawford had been in contact with women across several countries, including Italy, the US, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and other states in Australia, police said after Crawford’s arrest. Police believed he might have met some of the women through dating apps.Credit: Nine News

“What sounds impressive initially, which is that both of their blood was found in a certain location and therefore that’s the scene of some murderous rage – completely wrong,” he said.

“In addition ... it suggested that what occurred was a strangulation and moving of the body to the location it was found.

“No explanation at this stage is offered by the Crown, as to when or how the very significant head laceration on the back of the deceased’s head occurs.”

The court heard there was trace DNA of Mr Crawford found under all his wife’s fingernails.

Holt said while there were claims his client had been controlling, there was no evidence before the court that he had been physically violent with his wife.

The case remained before Justice Frances Williams, who reserved her decision.

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