The Teacher's Trial

The voices of Chris and Paul Dawson echo through the court once more as intercepted phone calls from the late '90s are played publicly for the first time. Members of the Dawson family, including twin brother Paul and sister-in-law Marilyn, recall the events leading up to and following Lynette Dawson’s disappearance decades earlier and mount a fierce defence of the accused.

The Crown bolsters evidence from former Dawson family babysitter JC, calling on former school friends and fellow playgroup mums to testify about her life in Queensland and the deterioration of her marriage to Chris Dawson.

For daily updates from The Australian, search for "The Front" in your podcast app.

The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.

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The court hears Chris Dawson's story in his own words as video of his first and only police interview on the topic of his wife's disappearance is played in full. His brother, Peter Dawson, remembers the crucial weeks and months following Lynette Dawson's disappearance and a teenage co-worker of JC recounts a frightening encounter with Chris Dawson, who allegedly warned him to stay away from JC. And this decades-old cold case hits a very modern road bump thanks to COVID-19.  

For daily updates from The Australian, search for "The Front" in your podcast app.

The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s an intense and emotional week in court as Lyn’s workmates and friends tell of a steady deterioration of her marriage to Chris Dawson. Witnesses are tested on allegations of bruising on Lyn and violence and aggression in the home. The evidence takes us from the school grounds of Cromer High to seaside village South West Rocks, to the backdrop of a chart-topping song.

For daily updates from The Australian, search for "The Front" in your podcast app.

The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Dawson’s former babysitter “JC” gives evidence that he groomed her, then turned her into his “sex slave” and a substitute mother for his children after his wife Lyn’s sudden disappearance. Lyn’s friend and neighbour Julie Andrew and siblings Greg Simms and Pat Jenkins tell of the trauma of the past 40 years, as their nightmare is brought to life through diaries, letters and photographs.

For daily updates from The Australian, search for "The Front" in your podcast app.

The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four decades after former star footballer and high school teacher Chris Dawson allegedly murdered his wife Lyn, a murder trial her family feared would never happen has begun. The prosecution revealed that a new witness - a former Newtown Jets team-mate of the accused wife killer - will allege Dawson asked him in 1975 to help 'get rid' of Lyn. Dawson strenuously denies wrongdoing.

And in the lead up to the trial for the most high profile cold case in Australia's history, judges gave their verdicts on Dawson's right to a fair trial in light of The Teacher's Pet podcast series, the delays of 40 years since Lyn's disappearance, and the conduct of earlier police investigations.

For daily updates from The Australian, search for "The Front" in your podcast app.

The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Hedley Thomas and the journalists at The Australian, The Teacher's Trial follows the events in the trial of Chris Dawson, who is accused of the murder of his wife Lynette Dawson. To read The Australian's ongoing coverage of the trial search The Teacher's Trial or click here.

For daily updates from The Australian, search for The Front in your podcast app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.