Chris Dawson’s alleged victim has emotionally pleaded “I don’t make these things up” after her timeline of her first sexual activity with the former teacher was brought into question in court.
Dawson, a former teacher and Newtown Jets rugby league player, is standing trial in NSW District Court accused of engaging in sexual activities with an underage student at a Sydney high school where he taught in the early ’80s.
The timing of their first sexual activity is the central issue at trial, with Dawson, 74, having pleaded not guilty to one count of carnal knowledge.
Through his barrister Claire Wasley, Dawson has argued that he and the student first engaged in sexual activity in 1981 when she was 17 and a year 12 student.
However, the woman, who can only be known as AB, has said during her evidence that their first sexual activity occurred in August or September of 1980 at Dawson’s parents’ Maroubra home when she was 16.
The court has heard that AB alleged Dawson made an “improper” advance to her during a driving lesson.
And on a later occasion, she engaged in sexual activity with him for the first time, she has told the court.
The court has heard she was not eligible to receive her learner’s permit until November 1980.
According to the indictment, Dawson is accused of engaging in sexual activities with the teen between July 1 and December 12 of 1980.
The timing of the driving lesson, when the “improper” act was alleged to have occurred, has become a focus during her testimony, which drew to a close on Friday afternoon.
In her evidence, she said the “improper” act may have in fact been when they were spending time in the car, and that he often drove her to exercise classes.
“He had ample opportunity to do that,” AB said.
AB also told Ms Wasley that it was quite possible the driving lesson occurred before she had her learner’s permit.
“I suggest that’s something you made up in the witness box just now,” Ms Wasley said.
“No, I don’t make these things up. This happened to me. I’m so sick of this, having to justify everything I say,” AB said as she became tearful.
“I know it’s your job but this is my life … I want you to believe what I’m saying.”
The Crown prosecution has alleged at the time of their first sexual activity that she was still 16 years old and a student in his year 11 sports coaching class.
AB has told the court that on a written exam, she included a reference to their sexual activities.
AB has previously said she couldn’t remember the exact words and by that time she had been engaged in sexual activity with Dawson for “quite a long time”.
She told the court that a friend told her she thought it would be “funny” if she wrote something “exotic” about their sexual activities.
But she says she was left confused when he tore off the part of the exam where she had made reference to their sexual activities and gave her a zero.
Under cross-examination from Ms Wasley on Friday, AB denied suggestions that she didn’t include comments with a double meaning on her exam paper.
“I’d suggest to you that you didn’t write anything in your year 11 sports coaching exam that made reference to the accused (engaging in sexual activity) with you,” Ms Wasley asked.
“No,” AB said.
AB has told the court that she also engaged in sexual activities with Dawson in the back seat of his car, in his school office and in a pool.
According to AB, Dawson would leave love notes and cards in her school bag.
One card, which she told the court was from Christmas 1980, said “once or twice every minute” and was signed off as “God”.
She says “God” was an attempt to disguise his identity given she was underage.
“I’d suggest to you in year 12 he began giving you romantic cards and notes,” Ms Wasley asked on Friday.
“No, it was certainly well beyond romantic cards and notes in year 12. He started grooming me in year 11,” AB said.
Dawson was last year sentenced to 24 years in jail for the murder of his wife Lynette Simms.
He has maintained his innocence and has lodged a notice of intention to appeal.
Dawson’s carnal knowledge trial before Judge Sarah Huggett continues on Monday.