Source : Perth Now news
A pilot attending marriage counselling pursued a secret affair, exchanging nearly 10,000 messages in a month before his wife was found dead, a court has been told.
Former Air Force pilot Robert Crawford claimed to police he tragically found his wife Frances Crawford cold to the touch and trapped underneath a lawnmower in the early winter morning of July 30, 2024, the Brisbane Supreme Court was told.
Prosecution instead allege Mr Crawford strangled his wife and staged her murder to look like a lawnmower accident.
The pilot has pleaded not guilty.
The court was previously told the couple were struggling in their marriage after Ms Crawford discovered her husband’s 20-year history of infidelity, admitting he slept with multiple RAAF colleagues and other women across continents.
The court heard evidence, agreed upon by the parties, that Mr Crawford had engaged in a secret affair with his real estate agent Rebecca Lawler while he was working on reconciling his marriage.
In just one month, from October 2023 to November 2023, the pair exchanged 9979 messages and photographs with each other.
Mr Crawford first reached out to Ms Lawler after she showed him around his temporary home in Brisbane after he was kicked out of the family home by Ms Crawford for his cheating.
Mr Crawford thanked Ms Lawler for a gift box of snacks.
“I’m enjoying the chocolate,” he said in a text on October 4, 2023.
“Don’t suppose you need a break this afternoon?!? Come help me eat it hahaha I’ve got today off,” he inquired.
He later told Ms Lawler he and his wife were “exploring divorce” and he “enjoyed being single”, adding he “blamed his wife for not being able to go to his church anymore”.
On October 19, 2023, Mr Crawford told Ms Lawler his marriage was “completely over”, stating Ms Crawford wanted to sell the house.
On November 11, Mr Crawford reached out to Ms Lawler again, although she did not respond.
“Hey Bec it’s Rob here … just wanted to say hello,” the text read.
“I have so much to tell you, I’m overseas (at the moment) anyways just wanted to catch up and say hi 🙂 I hope you are well!”
The court previously heard evidence the couple were in marriage counselling from October 2023 to July 2024.
The trial continues.
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.
