Convicted spouse killer Chris Dawson has been discovered responsible of partaking in an illegal sexual relationship with one in all his college students in Sydney within the Nineteen Eighties, with the previous instructor muttering an expletive 5 occasions when the decision was delivered.
Dawson, 74, confronted a judge-alone trial within the NSW District Courtroom accused of 1 rely of carnal data of a scholar, aged between 10 and 17, who was his pupil at a northern seashores highschool.
Chris Dawson, pictured final yr, confronted a judge-alone trial within the NSW District Courtroom.Credit score: Nick Moir
Dawson, who turned a sports activities instructor at Cromer Excessive Faculty in 1979, was accused of starting a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old scholar, who can’t be named, a while between July and December 1980.
He didn’t deny having a sexual relationship with the woman, however maintained {the teenager} was not aged 16 or in his sports activities teaching class when the connection turned bodily.
Dawson’s barrister, public defender Claire Wasley, mentioned she didn’t counsel the connection between her consumer and the woman was acceptable, simply that it didn’t start within the yr alleged. She mentioned if it couldn’t be established that exercise occurred between July 1 and December 12, 1980, her consumer must be acquitted.
Decide Sarah Huggett delivers her verdict in Chris Dawson’s judge-alone trial on Wednesday.Credit score: Dan Himbrechts
On Wednesday, Decide Sarah Huggett discovered the connection did happen in that time period and located Dawson responsible.
Dawson, who had watched proceedings from Lengthy Bay correctional centre, sometimes shook his head throughout the prolonged judgment when the complainant’s proof was recited. After the decision was delivered, he mentioned “f—” to himself 5 occasions in fast succession.
Huggett mentioned the proof of the scholar, now in her 50s, was “probably the most essential proof referred to as within the trial”. She mentioned the lady was a considerate, calm and responsive witness who was matter-of-fact and forthright, and didn’t seem to decorate her account.
