The ghost of Neddy Smith haunts the Chris Dawson trial

The spectre of notorious ­killer Arthur ‘Neddy’ Smith hangs over Chris Dawson’s trial, after former Newtown Jets rugby league player Robert Silkman finally began testifying.

Chris Dawson, left, leaves the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The spectre of notorious ­convicted killer Arthur “Neddy” Smith has been left hanging over Chris Dawson’s trial for the ­alleged murder of his wife, Lynette, after a key new witness began giving ­evidence.

Former Newtown Jets player Robert Silkman finally began testifying via audiovisual link on Wednesday after lengthy debates over whether he would have to appear in court in person.

He recently suffered a spinal fracture from a fall, making it ­difficult for him to travel. Dressed entirely in black, with his collar pulled up around his neck and his head shaved, Mr Silkman gave evidence from Bankstown police station near his home in Sydney’s southwest.

He hadn’t spoken for long ­before his evidence was abruptly halted as he began talking about his criminal connections.

Mr Silkman has alleged he was approached by Mr Dawson, his former Newtown teammate, for help to get rid of Lyn six years ­before she vanished.

There is evidence he came ­forward and gave a statement to police in November 2018, deep into The Teacher’s Pet podcast series. The following month, police charged Mr Dawson with murder.

Asked by prosecutor Craig Everson SC who was in his social circle in 1975, Mr Silkman named several men, including fellow Newtown player Paul Hayward, as his main friends.

In 1978, Hayward was arrested in Thailand attempting to smuggle 8.4kg of heroin to Australia, and subsequently spent more than 10 years in a Bangkok prison.

He died from a heroin overdose in 1992.

Arthur ‘Neddy’ Smith guarded by correctional officers as they leave Supreme Court in Sydney in 1986.

When Mr Everson asked Mr Silkman who Hayward’s brother-in-law was, defence counsel Pauline David objected.

Lengthy legal argument followed before judge Ian Harrison SC ruled he would allow the ­question.

By then it was 4pm, half an hour past the end of the trial’s usual sitting time.

Mr Silkman was asked to ­return to the police station at 9.30am on Thursday to continue giving evidence.

It is a matter of public record that Hayward’s brother-in-law was Sydney gangster Neddy Smith.

Paul Hayward in his days as a rugby league star for the Newtown Jets

The crown will seek to allege that Mr Dawson approached Mr Silkman – as opposed to other teammates – for help to get rid of Lyn because of his criminal connections. Smith was a stand­over man, heroin dealer, armed robber and murderer.

He died in Sydney’s Long Bay jail last September after spending decades behind bars.

Early in his evidence, Mr Silkman said that in 1975 he was playing for the Newtown Jets, primarily in reserve grade.

Mr Everson showed Mr Silkman a game-day program for the Newtown Jets v Canterbury.

Mr Silkman thought it was from 1975.

It listed the name of a hooker replaced the following year, ­helping to place it in time.

The program named a reserve-grade team that included twins Chris and Paul Dawson and Mr Silkman.

Newtown’s home ground was Henson Park, and the team trained there two or three times a week, Mr Silkman said.

After training, players would typically go to the Henson Park Hotel in the next street for some drinks.

Mr Silkman said this included a mixture of players from first, second and third grades.

He could not recall whether Chris and Paul Dawson went there.

After home games, the same mix of players would go to the Newtown Leagues Club.

Mr Silkman said he played games with both Dawson brothers, but more with Chris.

As he described speaking to the brothers at training and on game days, Chris Dawson sat in the court with his arms folded staring up at the TV screen in court.

Chris Dawson on a 1970s children’s football card.

The court was also told the former lead detective investigating Lyn’s disappearance, Damian Loone, used a psychic to try to find her body.

Mr Loone was assigned the case when he was working at Dee Why police station in the late 1990s.

He had gone to Lyn and Chris Dawson’s former home at Gilwinga Drive in Bayview with psychic Debbie Malone, defence lawyer Ms David said.

Retired detective John Pendergast, who had assisted then detective Loone, was in the witness box.

He said it did “ring a bell” but he couldn’t remember if he was present.

Ms David asked Mr Pendergast if instead of engaging a psychic it would have been prudent to get statements from key witnesses, including family members who hadn’t provided them.

Mr Loone had also used hypnosis on Lyn’s eldest daughter, who was four when she went missing, Ms David said.

Mr Pendergast said it might have happened but he couldn’t remember it.

Ms David put it to Mr Pendergast that the real reason he visited Chris Dawson’s sister Lynette Hutcheon, her husband, Ross, and Chris’s brother Peter was to get the Dawson family talking on the phone. Police had warrants at the time to intercept Chris and Paul’s calls, she said.

Mr Pendergast said he was very much interested in what Chris’s siblings had to say about Lyn’s whereabouts, but it was also fair to say he hoped Chris would say something incriminating in the phone taps.

He rejected the defence’s suggestion that he had ignored anything corroborating Mr Dawson’s version of events.