Convicted wife-killer Chris Dawson will soon learn his fate after facing a second trial where he is accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage student at the school where he worked as a PE teacher.
Dawson, 74, has denied that the girl was under 17 years old when they first engaged in sexual activity, while the woman – who can only be known as AB – has told the court that she was 16 when they first engaged in sexual activity in Dawson’s parent’s bed.
The timing of that first sexual activity is the central issue at the trial, after Dawson pleaded not guilty to one count of carnal knowledge.
Under cross examination, AB adamantly stated the first instance occurred when she was in Year 11 at the school on Sydney’s northern beaches, and made an emotional plea: “I want you to believe what I’m saying.”
Dawson, through his lawyers, has claimed AB’s version of events is incorrect and that the first instance of sexual activity between them didn’t occur until the following year.
During the second week of the trial, before NSW District Court judge Sarah Huggett, some of AB’s former friends and classmates recalled their interactions with Dawson and AB during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
They recounted three key events, which will play a major part in determining his fate.
THE TROLLEY BOY
A former trolley who said he harboured a teenage crush on AB told the court that he was grabbed and threatened by a man, who he identified as Chris Dawson, during an encounter in a Coles parking lot.
He told the court that he worked at the supermarket alongside AB and she on numerous occasions declined his advances after asking her out on a date.
He said he was working a Saturday morning shift when he was approached by Dawson while collecting trolleys from the parking lot.
“A man I now know as Mr Dawson came out from near a car, out of the shadows, there was light streaming in, there are slits in the wall that let in the sunlight in,” the man told the court.
“He said ‘hey you’ or words to that effect.”
The man said he was “backed” against a concrete ramp.
He said it took “a minute to clock” who it was but he had been coached by Dawson’s brother Paul and recognised him from watching the Newtown Jets.
“He was pushing my chest, not really aggressively, more in just a threatening way, I guess you could say.
“Then backed me up against that wall, around my chest or lower throat, he wasn’t strangling me or anything like that, he was pushing and holding me.
“He was a very large man. Both the Dawson brothers looked like Chesty Bonds, that’s how we described them back then, very muscular, blond.”
The man said he was told by Dawson words to the effect of “Stay away from her, don’t go near her.”
“I was completely perplexed about what was going on and probably pretty scared,” the man said.
“I said: ‘Who?’
“He said: ‘(AB).’ … And all of a sudden the pieces fell together and that was sort of the end of the interaction. He must have moved away and I‘ve got the trolleys and hightailed it back up the ramp.”
Asked about the timing of the event, he said it occurred in 1980 – the same year AB alleges she engaged in sexual activity for the first time with Dawson.
He said he was able to place the year because at that stage he did not have his learner’s permit or a car.
Dawson, through his defence barrister Claire Wasley, challenged that he had ever threatened the boy.
“What I’d suggest is that Mr Dawson didn’t touch you and wasn’t threatening in any way,” Ms Wasley asked.
“Disagree,” the man replied.
THE LINDFIELD POOL
During her evidence, AB alleged that she and Dawson would engage in sexual activity in the pool while Paul was up the other end with another young girl.
Paul Dawson has not been charged with any offence or wrongdoing.
The court heard that Chris and Paul Dawson would teach fitness class at Lindfield school on Sydney’s upper north shore and would be accompanied by AB and the other young girl – who can only be referred to as CD.
The four of them would also swim in the Lindfield school pool after the classes were over, CD told the court.
Asked what she saw of AB and Chris Dawson while they were in the pool, CD told the court: “Well they were together, bodies together.”
CD told the court that she could not place what year the trips to the pool occurred, saying it was either in 1980 or 1981.
Ms Wasley asserted to CD on ever occasion that she was in the pool with the Dawson twins and AB that she was accompanied by members of the fitness class.
“I remember very vividly what happened in the Lindfield fitness classes,” CD said.
“I can guarantee you there were zero people in the pool at the time.”
THE OFFICE
The court heard that Dawson and AB were often sighted around the school playground together and she would spend her breaks in his office.
One of AB’s former schoolmates said that she noticed her friend began going missing during recess and lunch around the first half of 1980.
She said she and her friends would often go to Dawson’s office and knock on the door, asking for AB to come out.
“Once I opened the door and I saw her sitting on his lap,” the woman said.
The defence disputed that AB was ever seen sitting on his lap.
The trial will hear closing submissions from Crown prosecutor Emma Blizard and Ms Wasley on Tuesday before Judge Huggett retires to consider her verdict to be handed down at a later date.