Chris Dawson splits from third wife, property sold

Christopher Dawson blames the breakdown on the stress caused by the media’s revelations that he killed his first wife.

Chris Dawson claims he has split from his third wife, Susan Dawson. Picture: Tracey Nearmy

Convicted murderer Christopher Dawson claims he has broken up with his third wife Susan, blaming the breakdown on the stress caused by the media’s revelations that he killed his first wife, Lynette Joy Simms.

Dawson claimed in legal proceedings before his conviction he and Susan had split, but around the same time he and Susan were photographed together.

Property records show a Gold Coast investment property owned by Christopher Michael Dawson and Susan Constance Dawson sold on November 15.

It’s understood the property sold for just under $1m.

Chris Dawson, pictured at home in 2018. Picture: AAP

The property, on Barnard St, Biggera Waters, includes a three-bedroom main home and a small granny flat out the back.

It’s understood Susan Dawson had been staying at the Biggera Waters property.

The pair also own two properties on the Sunshine Coast, both of which are rented out.

Susan Dawson wrote a testimonial in support of Chris Dawson, which formed part of his defence lawyers’ plea for a lenient sentence.

Dawson’s two youngest daughters, by Lynette and his second wife JC, also gave testimonials in his support.

But his eldest daughter, Shanelle, made a powerful statement in court, accusing her father of a “selfish, misogynistic” act in murdering Lyn.

Dawson, 74, is serving a 24-year sentence for murdering Lynette, with a minimum non-parole period of 18 years.

His second marriage also broke up in unhappy circumstances: his wife JC was the family’s teenage former babysitter when they married after Lyn’s murder.

She subsequently left him and went to police with her allegation he had discussed seeking a hitman to kill Lyn.

Justice Ian Harrison of the NSW Supreme Court, in sentencing Dawson on Friday, condemned his act of “self-indulgent brutality” in murdering Lynette to further his relationship with JC.

She was a former student of Dawson, a PE instructor, at Cromer High on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Dawson is appealing his conviction.