Ex-RAAF pilot accused of staging wife's lawnmower death

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 00:44 · Archive

Robert John Crawford, a former RAAF pilot, is accused of murdering his wife Frances in 2024 and staging it as a lawnmower accident.

Robert John Crawford, a former RAAF pilot and military leader, denies murdering his wife Frances Crawford in 2024. The prosecution alleges he staged her death to appear as a lawnmower accident. His trial began in Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday.

The jury has heard evidence from two of Mr Crawford's affair partners, Antonia Marie Gueterres and Emily Renshaw, about his infidelity over twenty years. On Wednesday, the court viewed police body camera footage from July 2023 showing two of the Crawfords' adult children, Jessie and Jake, at their family home in Upper Lockyer with their mother speaking to police about their father. A triple-0 call from Ms Crawford made the same month was played to the court, in which she accused Mr Crawford of attempting to break in via a back window louvre. She told police she and her children were 'hiding' in their rooms. A man identifying himself as Robert then entered the bedroom and spoke to the operator.

Ms Crawford's sister and brother have given evidence that the couple were having marital difficulties following the revelation of Mr Crawford's affairs. The trial is expected to continue on Thursday.

How it is being reported

• Ex-RAAF pilot Robert Crawford accused of staging wife’s lawnmower death after affairsA self-confessed cheating pilot who is accused of murdering his wife following a marriage breakdown will hear evidence from his own children.The West Australian · 29 Oct, 00:21
• Ex-RAAF pilot Robert Crawford accused of staging wife’s lawnmower death after affairsA self-confessed cheating pilot who is accused of murdering his wife following a marriage breakdown will hear evidence from his own children.Perth Now · 29 Oct, 00:20

In this story: Robert John Crawford · Frances Crawford · Jessie Crawford · Jake Crawford · Brisbane Supreme Court · Upper Lockyer · Brisbane

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