Chris Dawson trial: Brothers up in arms after guilty verdict delivered

Chris Dawson’s family lashed out at members of the press and at times broke down as they left the Law Court Building in Sydney shortly after the guilty verdict was handed down.

Peter and Paul Dawson are restrained by police after a scuffle with media as they leave the Supreme Court, Sydney, on Tuesday following the guilty verdict against their brother Chris. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Chris Dawson’s family lashed out at members of the press and at times broke down as they left the Law Court Building in Sydney and walked to Town Hall surrounded by a media scrum shortly after the guilty verdict was handed down.

Chris Dawson’s identical twin brother Paul and his brother Peter, who supported him throughout the trial, fled the NSW Supreme Court room and embarked on a long, agonising walk to board the light-rail at Town Hall while thronged by cameras.

The emotion-laden and expletive-loaded walk across Hyde Park saw the Dawson clan stop to hold each other close, appearing to break down at times and hurl abuse at reporters at others.

Peter Dawson, clad in a black suit and red patterned tie, screamed at a female reporter after he collided with her as he crossed Queens Square.

“You hit me in the head with it, you idiot,” he said.

A male voice can be heard saying “You ran into her” to which he responded “Well f..k off”.

Tempers flared when Paul Dawson became separated from his wife, Marilyn, in the media scrum and he began pushing members of the press. “Get out of the way, you mongrels,” he said.

He rounded on a TV cameraman and shoved him in the chest as Marilyn let out cowering cries of “Excuse me”, her voice close to breaking.

One of the officers making up the Dawsons’ police escort was forced to intervene and push Paul Dawson away.

“Excuse me, excuse me, I’m trying to get to my wife,” he said, as he shoved the man in the chest.

Marilyn Dawson broke down as she caught up with her husband, with she, Paul and Peter holding each other in an embrace in the middle of Hyde Park as she sobbed. “Hold my hand,” she said to her husband.

An unknown man dressed in a grey fleece jacket acted as the family’s defender, snarling at reporters and on one occasion holding his jacket open protectively around Marilyn’s shoulders.