Former teacher Chris Dawson has been subjected to "constant threats" in prison since he was found guilty of murdering his first wife 40 years ago, a Sydney court has heard.
Key points:
- Dawson will be sentenced for murdering his wife Lynette on November 11
- The 74-year-old appeared in court wearing a prison tracksuit
- He has always denied murdering Ms Dawson
Dawson, 74, appeared in person in the NSW Supreme Court wearing a prison-issued green tracksuit.
On Tuesday, Justice Ian Harrison found him guilty of murdering Lynette Dawson, who vanished from the city's northern beaches in 1982.
Dawson today sat next to his lawyer, Greg Walsh, in court as Mr Walsh told the judge he had been subjected to "constant threats".
"He's constantly said there's a large number of people threatening his life," Mr Walsh said.
Justice Harrison said while he didn't have the power to direct Corrective Services, he could make recommendations.
The judge said to the extent that was possible, he would be "the first person" to recommend immediate steps be taken to protect Dawson from "people who think they know better than the law".
"It may even be appropriate for you, with my blessing, to contact them today in anticipation of Mr Dawson returning to his accommodation," Justice Harrison said.
The judge said Dawson was entitled to be given all appropriate medical assistance, along with all physical protection he may require.
Dawson made no application for bail and his sentencing hearing was set for November 11.
Outside court, Mr Walsh said there were grounds for appeal.
"I believe that there are certainly grounds of appeal. I could not express a proper view at this stage as to my level of confidence. His honour put in extraordinary effort into his judgment," Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh said he needed to give careful consideration to the magistrate's judgment which extends over 268 pages but he will keep an eye out for key issues.
"There are some aspects which come to mind for example intention to kill, the circumstances under which his honour was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he killed his wife when there was a complete absence of any such evidence...it seems the only strand that was left was his obsessional sexual relationship with JC," he said.
Mr Walsh said Dawson had been subjected to "serious death threats by a number of prisoners".
Dawson has always denied involvement in Ms Dawson's disappearance and during a judge-alone trial, his lawyers suggested Ms Dawson may have chosen to abandon her family.
The Crown alleged he was motivated to kill Ms Dawson in order to have an "unfettered relationship" with their teenage babysitter, JC.
Dawson's lawyers argued there was an alternative explanation for the disappearance, suggesting Ms Dawson may have abandoned her family after her trust was broken.
Justice Harrison on Tuesday said there was "a most compelling" body of evidence to support a rejection of that hypothesis.
Ms Dawson's body has not been found.
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2022-09-01 01:04:33Z
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