Teacher’s pet: NSW DPP reconsiders evidence in suspected Dawson murder

The NSW DPP is again considering if there is enough evidence to launch a prosecution over the suspected murder of Lyn Dawson.

‘I just hope the DPP can look at it with new eyes’ … Lyn Dawson’s brother Greg Simms and sister Pat Jenkins. Picture: Hollie Adams

The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions is again considering if there is enough evidence to launch a prosecution over the suspected murder of missing Sydney mother Lyn Dawson after a renewed police investigation.

The Australian can reveal the NSW Police Force’s Unsolved Homicide Unit met Lyn’s family, searched for potential witnesses and reviewed the evidence as part of a fresh probe into Lyn’s 1982 disappearance.

Lyn’s relatives were told in recent months that police had provided a new submission to the DPP for consideration on whether there was enough evidence to prosecute.

Two coroners have previously found Lyn was murdered by her husband Chris Dawson in 1982, but then-DPP Nicholas Cowdery QC said there was not enough evidence to prosecute.

Mr Dawson, a former star rugby league footballer and high school physical education teacher, has not been charged and strenuously maintains his innocence.

Lyn’s brother, Greg Simms, yesterday said detectives had been “going over the entire brief and looking for any new evidence”. The DPP had not yet been back to police with a decision, he said.

It comes as The Australian investigates the cold case in a major podcast series, The Teacher’s Pet, which has unearthed evidence missed by police.

A new episode, to be released tomorrow, will examine allegations of violence in the couple’s marriage and includes a surprise new witness who has never spoken to investigators.

After waiting decades for justice, Mr Simms was wary of expecting prosecutors to change their stance.

“I’ve always said it, and I’ll stick to my guns, somehow there’s a little red dot on that brief somewhere … saying this won’t go any further. It just feels like that,” he said.

His wife, Merilyn, said police “found statements to be consistent after all this time, they’ve condensed the brief considerably”.

The Teacher’s Pet: podcast episodes

Lyn’s sister, Pat Jenkins, yesterday said she first met with police conducting the renewed investigation in October 2015.

“I just hope the DPP can look at it with new eyes.,’’ she said.

“One reason the DPP gave for not proceeding to prosecution was there was no body and it was just circumstantial evidence.

“A number of people have been charged with murder, gone to court and (been) found guilty under similar circumstances, no body and the evidence circumstantial.

“Why can’t justice also be achieved for Lyn?”

For many years the investigation into Lyn’s disappearance was led by detective sergeant Damian Loone. The renewed investigation was run by another officer, detective senior constable Daniel Poole.

1970-1979

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

Chris Dawson marries Lynette Simms, both aged 21. They have two children and Chris begins working as a PE teacher at Cromer High School.

1980

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

Chris begins a secret affair with Joanne Curtis, 16, his student, soon after introducing her to his family as the babysitter. He starts asking her to marry him.

1981

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

Lyn is persuaded by Chris to let Joanne move into their family home as the teenager's step father is violent. Lyn discovers the relationship.

December, 1981

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

With his marriage to Lyn in trouble, Chris flees Sydney with Joanne to start a new life in Queensland, but along the way Joanne changes her mind and wants to take a break. They return to Sydney.

January, 1982

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

Joanne goes camping with her sister and school friends to mark the end of year 12. Chris and Lyn attend marriage counselling together. On January 8, Lyn speaks with her mother on the phone. The next day, Lyn fails to meet her family at Northbridge Baths as planned.

January 10-11, 1982

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

One or two days after Lyn's no-show at the pool, Chris drives up the Central Cost to pick up Joanne and they return to Sydney. He asks Joanne to move in with him. He does not report Lyn missing until almost six weeks later.

1983-1985

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

Chris divorces the missing Lyn and marries Joanne. The couple move to Queensland and have a daughter together. They separate in 1990 and Joanne returns to Sydney. She contacts Lyn's family and police and provides information about Chris and Lyn.

1992-2000

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

Areas of the Dawsons' former Sydney home are excavated by police on different occasions, and a woman's cardigan is found, in pieces and bearing what appear to be slash marks. Forensic testing does not make a positive match with Lyn.

2001-2003

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

Two inquests are held into Lyn's disappearance. Two coroners find she was murdered by someone known to her. Chris does not appear at either inquest. The DPP does not support a prosecution for murder or the laying of charges, citing a lack of evidence.

2010-2014

Timeline: Lyn Dawson

Rewards of up to $200,000 are offered for information to help solve the case.

When she vanished without trace, Lyn had two daughters, aged 4 and 2. Her husband was in a sexual relationship with a teenage student, Joanne Curtis, who moved into his home at Bayview, on Sydney’s northern beaches, just two days after Lyn went missing.

Police declined to comment about the DPP, but confirmed there had been a new probe into the case.

“The investigation into the 1982 disappearance and suspected murder of Lynette Joy Dawson remains under the responsibility of the Homicide Squad’s Unsolved Homicide Unit,” a spokeswoman said.

“Strike Force Scriven was established to reinvestigate the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Detectives are not in a position to comment on the investigation at this time.”

A $200,000 reward remained open for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible and detectives urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

The DPP’s office yesterday declined to comment. “This office does not comment on referrals or requests for advice from agencies such as the NSW Police Force. Any advice you require about a matter would have to be obtained from them,” a spokeswoman said.

True crime podcast 'The Teacher’s Pet' has shone light on the 36-year unsolved murder of Lynette Dawson.

Hedley Thomas who investigated and wrote the podcast joins us, along with Lynettes niece, Rene Sims. pic.twitter.com/9T9gC7hYa1

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) May 26, 2018

DPP reviews of the evidence in previous years have not resulted in any charges.

In one letter to Lyn’s family in August 2011, then-acting deputy director of public prosecutions Christopher Maxwell QC said the office had “carefully considered whether any charges should be laid against any person” after being provided further material by police earlier that year.

“At that time the acting director determined that taking into account of the material received, there remained insufficient evidence to lay a charge,” Mr Maxwell wrote.

The office had “on a number of occasions” carefully considered the evidence provided.

“This matter has been extensively considered and the decision made with strict adherence to the guidelines.”

The current Director of Public Prosecutions, Lloyd Babb QC, was appointed in July 2011.

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