Prosecutors have revealed a major breakthrough in their case against an Air Force pilot accused of murdering his wife following an alleged “accident” with a lawnmower.
Robert John Crawford has been in custody for the past month since he was charged with murdering his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford, at their Upper Lockyer property in Queensland in July.
Ms Crawford, 49, was found dead at the foot of a retaining wall at the rear of the property, near a lawnmower.
Police charged Crawford, 46, on Oct. 10 with murder and misconduct with a corpse, alleging he moved his wife’s body on or around the same date.
During a further mention on Friday, Crown prosecutor Chris Cook said 65 witness statements had been provided to Crawford’s lawyer, Andrew McGuinness.
Ipswich Magistrates’ Court was told that further evidence, including a “biomedical engineering expert report”, would be received in the coming weeks.
Cook said a pathology statement was also due in January.
Cook said samples had been handed over to Queensland Forensic Services for DNA testing, but clarified there was no estimated return date due to well-known issues with DNA testing.
Frances Elizabeth Crawford (pictured) was found dead at the foot of a retaining wall at the rear of the couple’s property in Upper Lockyer, southeast Queensland, in July.
“In summary, we hope to have a complete summary of testing by February,” he said.
“But we will continue to release the material as we receive it.”
McGuinness told the court the writing was “thin” and “almost devoid of information” to support the murder charge.
He said no forensic evidence or cause of death had been provided.
McGuinness said there was clearly more information in the prosecution’s possession that needed to be revealed.
Air force pilot Robert John Crawford (pictured) has been in custody for the past month after being charged with the murder of his wife.
The court was told the writing referred to “evidence of inconsistencies with the defendant’s accounts of the scene” and the injuries suffered by the victim.
McGuinness said the brief said it was supported by forensic evidence and “activity on electronic devices”, which he said had not been disclosed.
The matter was adjourned to November 8 for further mention.
Crawford has also made a bail application to the Supreme Court, which will be heard in Brisbane on November 14.
Emergency services found Ms Crawford at the base of the retaining wall on her property at around 3.40am on July 30.
Crawford had called triple-0 and was initially assisting police with their investigations.
