‘I think she’s OK’: murder accused’s triple-zero call
Rex Martinich |
A man accused of murdering his wife told triple zero he did not know if she was breathing after he allegedly found her body crushed under a ride-on lawnmower.
Frances Crawford was discovered next to a ride-on mower below a retaining wall on the couple’s property near Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, in the early hours of July 30, 2024.
Former RAAF pilot Robert Crawford, 49, has pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to the murder of his wife.
A 22-minute recording of Crawford’s triple-zero call at 3.38am after allegedly finding his wife’s body was played to the jury on Thursday.
“I think she’s still OK,” Crawford told the triple zero operator.
Crawford said there was blood at the scene and repeatedly said “I don’t know” when asked if she was breathing.
The sound of Crawford crying and apparently making rapid chest compressions in an attempt to revive his wife could be heard throughout the call.
“What was she mowing at this time?” the operator asked Crawford.
“The sprinklers. I think she was moving it,” Crawford said.
The operator told Crawford he was doing well with CPR and an ambulance helicopter was on its way.
Crawford stopped giving CPR after about 10 minutes of chest compressions and was told to continue by the operator.
The sound of chest compressions continued until the voices of emergency services could be heard in the background and the call ended.
Crawford sat in court with hands on lap as the jury heard the recording.
Two of Crawford’s adult children were also in court to listen to the call.
Both earlier testified their mother “never” used the ride-on mower before the alleged fatal accident.
Jessie Skye Crawford testified that her mother had resumed her relationship with Crawford after initially planning a “financial separation” over his infidelity.
“He started turning up and doing mowing and the hedges,” Jessie said.
“She said at least stuff was getting done and she would take advantage.”
Jessie said she thought her mother was “picking her abuser over us” in allowing Crawford back into the family home.
“Did you see your father mowing the grass?” crown prosecutor Chris Cook asked.
“Yes. I saw him,” Jessie said.
Jake William Crawford testified his mother had friends come over with their own push mower rather than cut the lawn herself.
“Did you ever see your mother cut the grass?” Mr Cook said.
“Never,” Jake said.
Frances Crawford had been quite worried about her financial situation while planning to separate from his father, Jake said.
Her children did not approve of her resuming the relationship with Crawford.
“I was distressed for her, for her safety,” Jake said.
“None of us kids wanted her with dad.”
The trial continues.
AAP