Accused wife killer’s bail breach charge dismissed
Rex Martinich |
A former air force pilot accused of murder after his wife’s body was found near a lawnmower has had a bail breach dismissed.
Robert John Crawford, 47, faced a summary hearing in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday charged with breaching bail conditions by not answering his door to police.
Crawford faced strict bail conditions, including an 8pm to 8am home curfew, after he was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse.
He was accused of staging the death of his wife, Frances Crawford, to look like an accident after she was found near the ride-on lawnmower at a rural Upper Lockyer property, west of Brisbane, in July 2024.
Crawford was charged in October 2024 and granted bail in May, which had conditions including the home curfew.
Magistrate Mark Howden heard that an officer knocked on Crawford’s home at 1.55am on June 13 after arriving in an unmarked four-wheel drive.
Queensland Police prosecutor Anita Page showed body-worn camera footage of an officer knocking on the front door of the large home surrounded by bushland, before looking in a window and knocking again.
Crawford was arrested at Toowoomba Police Station at 9am on June 14 when he arrived for his daily bail reporting requirement.
Defence solicitor Andrew McGinness told police Crawford was at home on the night of June 13.
“He was asleep and it was clear enough he did not hear,” Mr McGinness said.
Crawford also told police in a formal recorded interview that he was abiding by his curfew.
“I was present at home. I did not hear any knocks on the door,” he said.
On Monday, defence barrister Matthew Jackson said police spent one minute and 20 seconds knocking on Crawford’s door.
“They did not make Crawford aware they were exercising police powers,” Mr Jackson said.
Mr Jackson told Mr Howden the body worn camera did not show police taking extra steps such as calling out to Crawford or shining torches in his windows.
Ms Page said it was not for police officers to reinterpret the conditions of a Supreme Court bail order and that they were not permitted to do anything other than knock on the door.
“Given the serious nature of the charges … (Crawford) is under the obligation to do everything he can to comply with bail conditions,” Ms Page said.
Following a two-hour hearing with three police witnesses, Mr Howden granted the application for no case to answer and dismissed the breach of bail charge.
“I am satisfied (Crawford) was asleep when police knocked on his door and he did not hear them knocking,” Mr Howden said.
“In that circumstance, the police case must fail because they are unable to prove he was asked to answer the door.”
Crawford appeared in court dressed in a black suit and light blue tie, sitting at the bar table during the hearing with his hands clasped in his lap.
He declined to comment when approached by reporters as he exited court on Monday.
The murder charge is due to be next heard on October 8 at Ipswich Magistrates Court for committal proceedings.
Crawford was suspended from the Royal Australian Air Force in October 2024, before separating from the Australian Defence Force in April.
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AAP
