Wife-killer Chris Dawson’s desperate move to get out of jail

Wife-killer and former teacher Chris Dawson has launched an appeal against his murder conviction as he fights to be freed from jail.

Former teacher Chris Dawson has launched a bid to be freed from prison and have his conviction quashed after he was found guilty of murdering his wife to make way for his teenage babysitter.

Dawson, 75, was told he would likely die in jail after he was last year found guilty of murdering his wife Lynette Simms, who disappeared from their Bayview home on Sydney’s northern beaches in 1982.

After a long-running trial, Justice Ian Harrison found that Dawson killed his wife so he could be with one of his students, who he later married.

Ms Dawson disappeared in January 1982 - her body has never been found and she never contacted her friends or family, including her two children.

Dawson previously filed a notice of intention to appeal Justice Harrison’s verdict.

Lawyers acting for the former Newtown Jets rugby league player are set to appear in the Court of Criminal Appeal - the state’s highest court - on Thursday in a first step in attempting to have his conviction overturned.

Chris Dawson has launched an appeal to have his murder conviction quashed. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard.

Chris Dawson and Lynette Simms on their wedding night. Picture: Supplied.

His appeal will be heard at a later date.

Last year, Justice Harrison said the case against Dawson was circumstantial. However, he said finding that Dawson killed Lynette was “the only rational inference that the circumstances would enable me to draw”.

Ms Simms, a 33-year-old nurse, was last seen on Friday January 8, 1982 when she spoke to her mother Helena Simms on a phone call.

Dawson was found to have killed his wife just weeks after he had unsuccessfully attempted to run off with his teenage babysitter and student to start a new life in Queensland.

Justice Harrison found that Dawson harboured a “possessive infatuation” with his teenage student.

Chris Dawson and his former student, JC, on their wedding day. Picture: Supplied

Chris Dawson is seeking to have his conviction quashed so he can be released from jail. Picture: NCA NewsWire.

Dawson has always maintained his innocence

At trial, his defence argued that he had neither the opportunity nor the motive to kill the mother of his two children.

Dawson in 1991 told detectives during a police interview that he had dropped off his wife at a Mona Vale bus stop so she could go shopping and it was planned that she would meet him later that afternoon.

However she did not arrive at the Northbridge Baths, where Mr Dawson worked as part-time lifeguard.

Dawson was sentenced to 24 years in jail with an 18-year non-parole period.

Earlier this year, Dawson was convicted of one count of carnal knowledge after a judge found he engaged in sexual activities with one of his 16-year-old students at a Sydney high school in 1980.

He was sentenced by Judge Sarah Huggett to three years in jail and had one year added onto his non-parole period.