Alleged murderer Chris Dawson will spend this weekend behind bars after a decision regarding his bail request was adjourned until Monday.
According to The Australian, Dawson’s lawyer offered $1.5 million for his bail, but it wasn’t granted. The 70-year-old appeared via video link at Central Local Court in Sydney on Friday.
Dawson was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife Lynette earlier this month. Police raided his home on the Gold Coast and he was extradited to Sydney the next day to face his charges.
It came almost 37 years after mother-of-two Lynette was declared missing from her Sydney home on January 9, 1982.
According to tweets by 9 News Sydney Court Reporter Kelly Defor, Dawson’s lawyer told the court on Friday that the crown case is entirely circumstantial and not strong.
Defor also explained that Dawson was prepared to pay $1.5 million in security to get bail and that the 70-year-old became aggravated when the crown suggested he could use his twin brother’s passport if he was granted bail.
“You’re kidding,” he said when the crown made the passport claim, according to Defor.
Dawson’s arrest came after popular podcast The Teacher’s Pet, produced by The Australian, revisited the cold case in detail and recalled how Dawson claimed at the time that his wife needed time away when she left.
Following Dawson’s arrest, his family said they were “disappointed”. The family slammed the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), claiming Dawson was innocent and that there was still more evidence to be investigated.
“We are disappointed at the decision of the DPP as there is clear and uncontested evidence that Lyn Dawson was alive long after she left Chris and their daughters,” the statement posted on social media read. “We have no doubt whatsoever that Chris will be found not guilty as he is innocent. There will be no further comment. Please respect the privacy of Chris and his family.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told media that additional evidence had been identified that enabled police to build a case against Dawson.
“They were predominately statements from witnesses that helped us tie pieces of the puzzle together,” he explained.
“No doubt it will be a voluminous brief with an enormous amount of evidence and obviously there will be a number of witnesses that will be called.”
Despite two coronial inquests recommending Chris be prosecuted for murder in the past, the DPP stated at the time there was insufficient evidence to lay charges.
A decision regarding Dawson’s bail will be made on Monday.