Chris Dawson arrest: babysitter revealed as new witness who may give evidence
The former babysitter for Chris and Lyn Dawson is one of the new witnesses who may be called to give evidence in the murder charge against the former footballer | NEW PODCAST EPISODE TONIGHT
The former babysitter for Chris and Lyn Dawson is one of the new witnesses that may be called to give evidence in the murder charge against the former footballer.
Bev McNally, of Cromer, has confirmed she is a witness and was relieved over this morning’s arrest of Mr Dawson for the alleged murder of his wife, 36 years ago.
She babysat the couple’s two young daughters.
“It feels surreal,” Ms McNally told The Manly Daily. “It is a happy day and a sad one. People have to remember that as well.
“His daughters have had their world re-shattered. We have to feel for them too.”
Ms McNally said the couple’s older daughter, Shanelle, was “coping’’.
“She was trying to prepare herself but nothing prepares you for this,” Ms McNally said.
WATCH: the moment police arrested Chris Dawson
Dawson set to face court in Sydney tomorrow
Chris Dawson will spend the night at the Southport Watchhouse on the Gold Coast before he is flown to Sydney tomorrow, after his application for bail was denied.
The 70-year-old will face Parramatta Local Court tomorrow where he will be charged with the murder of his wife Lynette Dawson, who disappeared in 1982.
Mrs Dawson’s disappearance was the subject of The Australian’s Gold Walkley winning podcast The Teacher’s Pet.
NSW police are trying to arrange a flight to carry the 70-year-old, but is understood that some airlines have been reluctant to transport Mr Dawson due to his notoriety.
He will either be flown from the nearby Coolangatta airport or from Brisbane.
Mr Dawson applied for bail, promising to drive himself to Parramatta for the court appearance.
But Magistrate Dennis Kinsella said the objective seriousness of the alleged crime meant the flight risk was too high.
Describing the matter as essentially “a cold case murder”, Mr Kinsella said the case against Mr Dawson was circumstantial.
“The essence of the case against him is a circumstantial case in which his wife is unable to be located,” he said.
Mr Kinsella said the “contextual matter” that Mr Dawson was involved in an “illicit affair” formed part of the case against him.
The court heard police will allege Mr Dawson wanted to leave his wife and that there were “outstanding property issues”.
The magistrate said the crown alleged domestic violence allegations against Mr Dawson would be raised in evidence, as well as testimony from the woman involved in the affair — Mr Dawson’s former student Joanne Curtis.
Dressed in a light khaki T-shirt, Mr Dawson rested his face in his hands as the details of the case against him were read aloud.
That included evidence that Lyn was going about living a “normal life” preparing for a family portrait, organising a birthday party and readying her daughter to start school, before she disappeared.
She had also not picked up a pay cheque and “was not financially viable”.
New witnesses a result of The Teacher’s Pet podcast
The police case against alleged murderer Chris Dawson will rely in part on two additional witness statements generated as a result of The Australian’s record-breaking podcast, The Teacher’s Pet.
NSW Police confirmed that since April, when police sought advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether there was sufficient evidence to charge Dawson over the murder of his wife, Lyn, detectives working the case had obtained additional evidence against the 70-year-old former footballer.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said while the brief of evidence would rely mostly on information gathered by the Unsolved Homicide Squad, the intense media interest in the case had resulted in new evidence.
“It is my understanding two additional statements were the work of the media,” he said.
That evidence came in the form of two additional witness statements described by the head of the Homicide Squad, Scott Cook as “corroborative, not crucial”.
Commissioner Fuller also hinted that police were pursuing fresh theories on where Ms Dawson’s remains may be.
Mrs Dawson vanished from her Northern Beaches home in January 1982. Her husband, Chris Dawson, was at the time in a relationship with one of his students, 16-year-old Joanne Curtis.
In September police conducted an extensive dig of the Dawson’s former home in Bayview, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, in a fruitless search for Ms Dawson’s remains.
“At this stage, while there are some broad working theories that I can’t go into those details, we haven’t given up hope in terms of finding Lynette Dawson’s body,” Commissioner Fuller said.
Commissioner Fuller said he had spoken with detectives about the decision to charge Mr Dawson.
“(Detectives) were very positive in terms of the strength of the case,” Commissioner Fuller said.
Chris Dawson’s family respond to arrest
The Dawson family has “no doubt whatsoever” that Chris Dawson will be found not guilty, releasing a statement following his arrest this morning.
“We are disappointed at the decision of the DPP as there is clear and uncontested evidence that Lyn Dawson was alive long after she left Chris and their daughters,” the statement reads.
“We have no doubt whatsoever that Chris will be found not guilty as he is innocent.”
Lyn’s family reacts
Lyn’s brother Gregg Simms this morning said he was “quite emotional”.
“We’ve had a cry, we’ve cuddled, we’re just completely over the moon that something has finally happened.”
Relative Allyson Jennings, who runs the Looking for Lynette Dawson Facebook page, was overwhelmed.
“I never thought this day would ever come. I really didn’t.
“Mum told me, then my brother messaged me as well. I’ve been in a work meeting and I got a text.
“It’s a big day but it’s also the beginning of a very scary journey. It’s the beginning of a very long legal process.”
The arrest
Dawson was arrested at the Gold Coast’s Biggera Waters, with Lyn’s family notified by police shortly afterwards.
Superintendent Scott Cook of the Homicide Squad said Mr Dawson had been surprised, but cooperative when police arrived at his home this morning and announced he would be charged with murder.
“I’m told that he was calm and a little bit taken back,” Mr Cook said.
The NSW DPP has been accessing a new brief of evidence since April.
It is understood police met with the DPP on Monday and a warrant was subsequently issued in NSW.
Homicide detectives from NSW travelled to Queensland, where local police carried out the arrest.
Commissioner Fuller thanked the media and the public for their assistance during the investigation.
“I thank the public and the media for partnership in solving this, whilst NSW Police since 2015 have worked tirelessly I recognise this is an important and ongoing relationship to solving this crime.”
Commissioner Fuller said the family of Mrs Dawson were relieved and were asking for patience.
“We spoke to the family of Lynette Dawson this morning who was certainly relieved to hear this result and from their perspective they have asked for some patience in terms of their confidentiality in going forth,” he said.
Additional reporting: Remy Varga
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