From morning swims to prison: Cold reality facing Dawson after guilty verdict

Chris Dawson will spend his first night behind bars - a far cry from the luxury beach life he’s used to.

The leisurely life by the beach and morning swims in the sun will be a far cry from Chris Dawson’s new reality of a tiny prison cell.

Earlier this year, the 74-year-old was enjoying morning swims while living his leisurely life on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast alongside his twin brother and family.

But on Tuesday, he was led away from the NSW Supreme Court in handcuffs and was whisked off to custody after Justice Ian Harrison SC found Dawson guilty of murder.

He accepted the Crown prosecution’s argument Dawson killed his wife and disposed of her body in January 1982 so he could be with the family’s teenage babysitter, weeks after he attempted to run off to Queensland with the young student.

Chris Dawson pictured wearing thongs and boardies enjoyed his leisurely life on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in 2018

He planned his beach swims and lunches with his wife around his daily reporting to police.

Dawson’s prospective life behind bars will be a far cry from his home on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Dawson was arrested four years ago and extradited to Sydney but managed to submit $1.5 million in sureties to secure his release.

The former star rugby league player pleaded not guilty to killing his wife, who was 33 when she disappeared from Sydney’s northern beaches leaving behind two daughters.

Since then, he has lived in his Mount Coolum home on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with his third wife Susan, often making the trip to Sydney for court appearances.

Located under the shadow of the rocky mountain and close to the beach, his suburb’s quiet streets are home to expensive houses and well-manicured lawns.

Dawson spent his days walking along the coast’s beaches or having a dip in his own backyard pool at the 301 square metre two-storey home – around his daily reporting to Maroochydore Police Station.

But now Chris Dawson will be taken into custody ahead of a bail hearing. Picture: AAP/Brendan Esposito

He was often seen in shorts and a T-shirt at cafes or local restaurants alongside his wife of 30 years, or going about daily errands.

But his life of leisure and luxury is a far cry from the environment he is about to endure in custody

Dawson was handcuffed and walked out of the NSW Supreme Court as his brother Paul shook his head in disbelief and muttered “bulls**t”.

While it was expected he would be taken to Silverwater Correctional Centre – the same place he spent a few weeks behind bars when he was arrested in December 2018 - his lawyer Greg Walsh told media outside court Dawson would either be taken to Parklea or Surry Hills police centre.

But Dawson’s days behind bars could be numbered with the 74-year-old set to face a bail hearing on Thursday in an attempt to be released until he is sentenced.

Chris Dawson was found guilty of murdering his wife Lynette more than 40 years ago in the NSW Supreme Court. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard.

If he is sent to Silverwater, the 74-year-old will be locked up in his cell for the night around 3pm after six hours of daylight in the yard alongside other prisoners.

It is anticipated he will first be taken to a holding cell with other handcuffed inmates before being ordered to undress in a booth and put in prison greens.

Dawson will often eat breakfast in his cell, consisting of packs of cereal, slices of white bread, tubs of jam and sugar – while lunch is a simple meal of sandwiches and fruit.

He will join the likes of former NSW Labor Minister Eddie Obeid, who is behind bars for conspiring over a coal licence for his family farm, while Kathleen Folbigg is next door in the women’s prison serving a sentence for murdering her three children.