Dementia diagnosis cited in Chris Dawson bail bid and plan to appeal

Chris Dawson will apply for bail and has flagged his intention to ­appeal his conviction for murdering first wife Lyn in 1982.

Chris Dawson’s lawyer has confirmed he has been diagnosed with dementia. Picture John Grainger

Chris Dawson will apply for bail and has flagged his intention to ­appeal his conviction for murdering first wife Lyn in 1982, with his lawyer citing cognitive problems including a dementia diagnosis believed to stem from his rugby league career.

Moments after NSW Supreme Court judge Ian Harrison handed down a guilty verdict, Dawson’s lawyer, Greg Walsh, told reporters his client maintained his innocence and would “certainly” appeal his conviction.

Mr Walsh told the court he was contemplating applying for bail but Justice Harrison said it would not be possible until his application can be heard on Thursday, meaning he will have to spend at least two nights behind bars.

“I can confirm that it’s probable that he will appeal against his conviction,” Mr Walsh said outside the court. “Mr Dawson has always asserted, and he still does, his absolute innocence … and he will continue to assert that innocence and he will certainly appeal.”

Mr Walsh said Dawson, now 74, was suffering from serious cognitive impairment and had been diagnosed with dementia, meaning “jail will be much harder for him”.

“I think in respect of sentencing of course his problems in relation to brain atrophy is a very important consideration and jail will be much harder for him,” he said.

“He has real cognitive problems and also he has problems with his hips and knees; the judge on sentencing will take all those matters into account.”

Lyn with Chris Dawson.

Mr Walsh has long maintained his client most likely acquired his cognitive issues from brain damage sustained while playing rugby league as a young man, including for the Newtown Jets in the early 1970s.

He confirmed Dawson had been diagnosed with dementia, though brain scans were unable to definitively prove whether he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a type of brain degeneration caused by repeated head trauma.

“That can’t be a definitive diagnosis, but on the brain scans it appears that is what he’s got,” he said.

Mr Walsh confirmed any bail application would be based on the grounds of Dawson’s declining cognitive and physical health.

“He’s not well and has been suffering from cognitive problems and also a lot of other physical problems,” Mr Walsh said.

Chris Dawson (wearing blue suit) is seen arriving at the Supreme Court in Sydneyy. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard.

“Whether I proceed with that application I don’t know; the judge hasn’t set a sentence date so it may be that I don’t proceed with that application at this stage, but I’ll need to get that material together.”

He said Dawson would go to Parklea correctional centre or Surry Hills police centre to await Thursday’s bail hearing.

Mr Walsh said Dawson was “obviously very shocked and upset” at the guilty verdict, despite Justice Harrison’s remarks being “very indicative” of a guilty verdict.

Following a six-hour judgment, Justice Harrison found Dawson killed Lyn, disposed of her body and then lied for decades to conceal the crime.

Justice Harrison accepted Lyn had not been seen since January 8, 1982, and Dawson fabricated accounts of a phone call with his then-wife and bank account transactions. Lyn never contacted her family or friends again, leading Justice Harrison to conclude she was dead.

Lyn’s family spoke outside the court, calling for Dawson to reveal where her body was buried so they could “bring her home”.