A woman has told a court her sister said she wished her air force pilot husband would die in a car crash rather than face divorce, six days before she was found dead.
Frances Elizabeth Crawford’s sister, Tamara Davis, told Brisbane Supreme Court about the conversation before the 49-year-old was found dead beside a ride-on mower at the couple’s property near Toowoomba at about 3.30am on July 30, 2024.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: RAAF pilot accused of murdering wife to avoid divorce settlement
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Davis told the jury her sister described the marriage as being “in disrepair” and said she felt scared and overwhelmed.
“She told me, ‘I wish Rob had a car accident, hit a tree and killed himself’ so she didn’t have to make a decision to leave the marriage,” Davis said.
Robert Crawford is on trial for the alleged murder of his wife Frances, whose body was found beside a ride-on lawnmower at their rural Queensland property in July 2024. He has pleaded not guilty. Credit: 7NEWS/AAPThe ride-on mower involved in the alleged murder of Frances Crawford. Credit: 7NEWS
The court heard Frances was concerned about the financial consequences of separating from her husband, former RAAF squadron leader Robert Crawford.
“There was a lot of concern … that if she gets a divorce she’d be single and broke, because Rob wanted to take all the money,” Davis told the court.
She also described Crawford as aggressive and defensive when speaking with his wife.
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Crawford has pleaded not guilty to murdering Frances and staging her death to look like a lawnmower accident in July 2024.
Prosecutors allege he strangled his wife before positioning her body beside the mower to disguise the killing and avoid a costly divorce settlement.
Earlier incident emerges
The jury has also been shown police body-worn camera footage from an incident more than a year before Frances’s death.
On July 20, 2023, Frances called triple-zero after Crawford allegedly broke into the family home, days after she had changed the locks following the discovery of his infidelity.
Police attended the property and became involved in a lengthy confrontation with Crawford, who insisted it was his house and repeatedly questioned why he should have to leave.
Queensland Police bodycam footage shows officers inside the Crawfords’ home after Frances called triple-zero. Credit: Queensland Police
In footage played to the court, Frances told officers she feared for her safety and said her husband did not understand the different forms domestic violence could take.
“He believes abuse is hitting, but he believes that’s the only platform of abuse,” she said.
“I should have got out long ago.”
The couple’s relationship had deteriorated after Frances discovered Crawford’s affairs, with the court previously hearing about repeated infidelities spanning two decades.
They later attempted to reconcile, but the relationship remained troubled.
‘Felt trapped’
The court also heard further evidence from Antonia Guterres, a former lover and RAAF colleague of Crawford’s.
Guterres told the jury Crawford had described Frances as emotionally unstable, claiming she was bipolar and “off her meds”.
She said he had also claimed Frances had brainwashed their children.
“It got a bit violent, and he was a bit distressed,” Guterres said.
Antonia Guterres, a former lover and RAAF colleague of Robert Crawford, gave evidence about their affair and Crawford’s claims about his troubled marriage. Credit: 7NEWSRobert Crawford was arrested and charged with the alleged murder of his wife, Frances, in July 2024. Credit: Queensland Police
The jury heard Crawford had discussed an argument over the ride-on mower with fellow RAAF pilot Peter Wuttke on the night Frances died.
Wuttke said Crawford told him he believed his wife had attempted to move the mower inside “to prove a point”.
The Crown alleges Frances was already dead, dying or unconscious when the mower was toppled over a retaining wall and her body was positioned beside it.
The defence maintains her death was an accident, arguing her neck was crushed by the mower.
The three-week trial is expected to hear evidence from about 50 witnesses.
– With AAP
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