Jury hears case against pilot over wife's death in rural Queensland
Robert Crawford, 49, is accused of killing his wife and making the scene look like an accident.
By Isaac Thompson ·
A Brisbane jury is weighing a murder case in which prosecutors say a former Royal Australian Air Force pilot killed his wife and then arranged the scene to look accidental. Robert John Crawford, 49, pleaded not guilty on Monday, 26 October, as the matter was heard in the Supreme Court of Queensland.
Frances Elizabeth Crawford died at Upper Lockyer on 29 July 2024. Her body was found beside a ride-on lawnmower at the base of a retaining wall on the couple's rural property west of Toowoomba. Prosecutor Chris Cook told jurors that Crawford killed his wife amid a prolonged breakdown in their relationship and then worked to frame the death as accidental. Justice Lincoln Crowley said the Crown will argue that Frances Crawford died from either strangulation or blunt-force trauma.
The prosecution has offered a financial motive. Cook told the court that the marriage was nearing its end and that Crawford faced losses in a divorce settlement. The Crown alleges he wanted to retain the couple's property and avoid dividing his superannuation with his wife. Cook also alleged that Crawford led a double life, presenting as a man of Christian faith while conducting affairs, and called him a "love rat." Four women with whom Crawford allegedly had relationships are expected to testify.
The jury heard that Frances Crawford had been weighing whether to end the marriage or give her husband a chance to prove his commitment to her and their children. She had written detailed boundaries for him, including conduct she considered grounds for divorce. Those conditions, the court was told, covered sexual or emotional infidelity, pornography and masturbation.
Jurors are set to visit the property on Wednesday to see where the alleged killing took place. Crowley told them that viewing the site would help them understand the evidence presented in court. The trial is expected to last three weeks and may hear from as many as 47 witnesses. Crawford's defence barrister has not yet delivered an opening statement.
The case continues in the Supreme Court of Queensland.
Source: The Guardian
