Arabic version: بدء محاكمة كروفورد بتهمة القتل في بريزبن

According to ABC News, former RAAF pilot Robert John Crawford is on trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court over the alleged murder of his wife, Frances Crawford, at their Upper Lockyer home in late July 2024.

Mr Crawford has pleaded not guilty to one charge of domestic violence murder. Prosecutors allege he strangled Frances Crawford and/or caused blunt-force trauma to her head, then manipulated the scene to make her death appear to be an accident involving the couple’s ride-on mower.

The Crown told the court Mr Crawford was facing financial consequences from a possible divorce settlement after years of alleged infidelity. Prosecutor Chris Cook said Mr Crawford wanted to retain possession and occupancy of the Upper Lockyer house and did not want to split his superannuation.

The court heard that, in the week after the alleged murder, Mr Crawford was due to take a polygraph test and was about to leave the couple’s $2.6 million home. The prosecution plans to call nearly 50 witnesses, including the couple’s children, relatives, friends, first responders and forensic, DNA and ecological experts.

Frances Crawford, a mother of three who worked part time as a psychologist in Toowoomba, was described as a devout Christian committed to her marriage. Mr Crawford has been on bail for more than two years. The trial is expected to run for about three weeks and continues.