Brisbane man denies staging wife's death
A former RAAF pilot faces up to 47 witnesses in a trial alleging he killed his spouse to avoid divorce costs.
By Allison Cooper ·
Robert John Crawford, 49, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford, in Brisbane's Supreme Court on Monday, October 26. The former Royal Australian Air Force pilot now faces a jury that will decide if he intentionally killed her and then arranged the scene to look like an accident.
Frances Crawford died on July 29, 2024, at the couple's rural property in Upper Lockyer, west of Toowoomba. Her body was found next to a ride-on lawnmower at the base of a retaining wall. Prosecutor Chris Cook told the jury that Crawford killed her while their marriage was collapsing. He argued that Crawford then worked to make the death appear accidental.
Justice Lincoln Crowley outlined the prosecution's theory to the court. The state will argue that Frances Crawford died from either strangulation or blunt-force trauma. Crawford's defense lawyer has not yet delivered an opening statement.
Financial pressure formed the core of the alleged motive. Prosecutors stated that Crawford faced substantial losses in a pending divorce settlement. They claimed he wanted to retain the family home and avoid splitting his superannuation funds with his wife. Cook described Crawford as maintaining a double life, presenting strong Christian values to the public while engaging in separate relationships.
The prosecutor called Crawford a "love rat" and suggested he was not committed to the marriage. Four women who allegedly had affairs with Crawford are expected to testify. The court heard that Frances Crawford had set specific boundaries for her husband. These conditions covered sexual or emotional infidelity, pornography, and masturbation. She was weighing whether to end the marriage or give him one final chance to prove his commitment to her and their children.
The jury is scheduled to visit the Upper Lockyer property on Wednesday. Justice Crowley explained that seeing the site would help them understand the physical evidence. The trial is expected to last three weeks.
Up to 47 witnesses may provide evidence during the proceedings. The court will continue with further testimony in the coming days.
Source: The Guardian
