Crawford pleads not guilty in Brisbane murder trial
A former RAAF pilot faces three weeks of testimony over his wife's death, which prosecutors say was staged to look like an accident.
By Michael Collins ·
Robert John Crawford entered a not guilty plea on Monday, October 26, in the Brisbane Supreme Court. The 49-year-old former Royal Australian Air Force pilot is accused of murdering his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford. Prosecutors allege he manipulated the scene of her death to suggest an accidental cause.
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 acted after a long period of marital strain. The prosecution contends that Crawford killed his wife through either strangulation or blunt-force trauma.
Financial motives form the core of the state's case. Cook argued that Crawford feared the losses associated with a divorce settlement. Specifically, the prosecutor claimed Crawford wanted to retain the family home and avoid splitting his superannuation. Cook also described the defendant as maintaining a double life. He portrayed Crawford as a man who projected strong Christian values while engaging in behavior that contradicted those beliefs.
Cook labeled Crawford a "love rat" and stated that the pilot was not committed to the marriage. Four women with whom Crawford allegedly had affairs are expected to testify. The court heard that Frances Crawford had set specific boundaries for her husband, including rules against sexual or emotional infidelity, pornography, and masturbation. She was reportedly weighing whether to end the marriage or give him a chance to prove his dedication to her and their children.
Justice Lincoln Crowley explained that the trial will focus on the physical evidence and the sequence of events. The jury is scheduled to visit the Upper Lockyer property on Wednesday to view the crime scene. Crowley noted that seeing the location would help the jurors understand the evidence presented in the courtroom.
The defense counsel has not yet delivered an opening statement. The trial is expected to last three weeks. Prosecutors plan to call up to 47 witnesses to present their case to the jury.
Source: The Guardian
