The homicide trial for Chris Dawson has heard one other model of the time the instructor and former rugby league participant allegedly sought out a hitman to kill his spouse, Lynette, within the early Eighties.
Giving proof within the New South Wales supreme court docket on Tuesday, Toni Melrose-Mikeska mentioned Dawson’s second spouse, identified solely as JC, confided in her about her husband after the pair broke up in 1990.
JC mentioned that if she didn’t make it to the police, Melrose-Mikeska was to inform them about an alleged go to to a pub within the early Eighties the place Dawson handed over an envelope to a person just a few days earlier than Lynette disappeared.
“[JC] mentioned, ‘I feel he murdered his first spouse’,” Melrose-Mikeska instructed the court docket.
Melrose-Mikeska was working on the Dreamworld theme park as Coo-ee the Gumnut Fairy when she met JC in 1987.
Giving proof final month, JC mentioned she had pushed to a constructing on the south aspect of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Upon returning to the automobile, Dawson allegedly instructed JC he had gone inside to rent a hitman however had modified his thoughts as a result of harmless folks might be killed or damage.
In a police assertion by JC in Might 1990, she mentioned Dawson had solely instructed her he had tried to rent a hitman just a few weeks after the automobile journey.
Dawson, 73, is accused of murdering his spouse in January 1982 so he may have an unfettered relationship with JC, who was a scholar at his former highschool and the household babysitter. He has pleaded not responsible.
Melrose-Mikeska spoke of an incident in 1989 when JC had utilized to play indoor cricket along with her whereas residing on the Gold Coast. On the time, she mentioned Dawson scouted out the venue earlier than giving her permission to play.
Dawson’s barrister Pauline David urged that as a result of her shopper was a bodily training instructor, it could not have been uncommon for him to take a look at the indoor cricket floor due to his love of sports activities.
David mentioned Dawson had purchased JC a cricket bat and inspired her to play. Melrose-Mikeska didn't know of this, saying she had by no means heard JC converse positively about her husband.
She mentioned JC had by no means talked to her about any bodily violence from Dawson however had talked about cases of psychological abuse.
An acquaintance of JC’s, Karen Cook dinner, additionally gave proof on Tuesday, saying JC had restricted funds to run the home. Her husband managed the money, giving her “housekeeping cash”, the court docket heard.
Cook dinner mentioned when she requested about Lynette Dawson, JC merely mentioned she had left her husband and two daughters with out making contact afterwards.
“We thought that was very unusual,” she mentioned.
Cook dinner admitted she had modified her opinions about what had allegedly occurred, finally expressing sympathy in direction of JC, after listening to The Trainer’s Pet podcast launched by the Australian in 2018.
One other witness, Karen Longhurst, who was mates with JC and Melrose-Mikeska, was additionally requested to go to the police if JC didn’t make it due to suspicions that Dawson had murdered his spouse, the court docket heard on Tuesday.
Longhurst recalled how she had invited JC to come back along with her to the Pacific Truthful Procuring Centre on the Gold Coast. JC needed to test with Dawson to see if she may go and in addition get permission about what she may put on, Longhurst mentioned.
On the buying centre, JC didn't purchase something and introduced alongside her personal packed lunch which she ate within the automobile, the choose heard.
“I felt [JC] was naive and doubtless in a controlling relationship and didn’t realise it till she began chatting with different folks,” Longhurst mentioned.
She admitted she had solely heard particulars of the connection from JC however mentioned her pal would haven't any purpose to make up tales about her husband.
Kristin Hardiman, an artist who met Lynette Dawson within the weeks earlier than she disappeared, gave proof on Tuesday that she was commissioned to color portraits of the Dawson youngsters.
In mid-January 1982, she known as to say the work had been completed. Dawson answered the cellphone and mentioned his spouse had left and didn’t need the photographs anymore.
“I bear in mind getting off the cellphone and considering it was very, very unusual,” Hardiman mentioned. The listening to continues.
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