Source : Perth Now news
A third woman has come forward as accused wife-killer Robert Crawford’s affair partner, telling a court he invited her to live in Papua New Guinea – the same offer made to another affair partner.
Robert Crawford, a former military pilot with the Royal Australian Air Force, is before the Brisbane Supreme Court accused of murdering his wife Frances Crawford in July, 2024.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Ms Crawford was found dead on the morning of July 30, laying next to a lawnmower, which Mr Crawford alleged she tried to move the night previous as she was concerned it would get wet by sprinklers.
His trial, now in its third week, has heard evidence of the couple’s marriage struggles in the wake of Mr Crawford’s infidelity – the pilot admitting in court to cheating with multiple women across the world over 20 years.
Crown prosecutor Chris Cook alleged, in his opening address, Mr Crawford was worried about losing his spacious, modern home in the regional Upper Lockyer area in a divorce, killing Ms Crawford and framing the scene as an accident.
Third woman speak on affair with Mr Crawford
The third woman to come forward in court as one of Mr Crawford’s affair partners, WA teacher Ruth Harvey, said the pair met on the online dating site eHarmony, around the same time Ms Crawford kicked him out of the home in mid-2023 when she discovered his past cheating.
“He said he had had an affair with somebody at his work and his ex-wife was very angry with him and that’s why they were separated,” Ms Harvey told the court.
Ms Harvey said Mr Crawford would talk to her about concerns in his marriage, claiming he was not allowed at the home without prior arrangements.
“He said (going to the home) would always end in an argument,” she said.
“He said that she was actively encouraging (their kids) not to have a relationship with him so he blamed her for that.
“He said even though she was a psychologist she was the one that was crazy.”
She said Mr Crawford was particularly concerned about his superannuation, and spoke about it frequently, noting he also “mocked” his wife’s “intelligence”.
“He spoke about it a lot, all the time,” she said.
“He explained to me that she didn’t understand the math.
“He would laugh at her.”
In cross examination, Ms Harvey said Mr Crawford explained to Ms Crawford taking “half the super and half the house” would equate just taking “the house” in a divorce.
Ms Harvey told the court Mr Crawford had assured her he would “categorically” never get back together with Ms Crawford, despite the pair reconciling in 2024.
“She’ll never finish being angry. It’s finished now,” Mr Crawford said to Ms Harvey in text messages seen by the court.
She claimed Mr Crawford had told her he planned to take a posting in Papua New Guinea and inquired if she would come.
“He told me that he would like to take a posting there and would I consider going there with him to live there,” Ms Harvey told the court.
The court previously heard evidence from another affair partner, Antonia Guterres, Mr Crawford had also invited her to live with him in Papua New Guinea.
The pair broke up in December 2023, Ms Harvey last staying with him on Christmas Day at his Brisbane apartment.
She told the court she sent a letter to Ms Crawford’s place of work address to Mr Crawford but never heard back.
The court previously heard from Ms Guterres and a fellow RAAF pilot Emily Renshaw on their previous romantic connections to Mr Crawford, while he was married to Ms Crawford.
The trial continues.
