Crawford pleads not guilty in Upper Lockyer murder trial

Robert John Crawford, 49, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife on Monday, October 26, as a jury convened in the Brisbane supreme court. The prosecution claims the former Royal Australian Air Force pilot orchestrated the circumstances of Frances Elizabeth Crawford’s death to make it appear accidental. The trial is scheduled to last three weeks and may involve testimony from up to 47 witnesses.

Frances Crawford died on July 29, 2024, at the couple’s rural property in Upper Lockyer, west of Toowoomba. Her body was found beside a ride-on lawnmower at the base of a retaining wall. Prosecutor Chris Cook told the jury that Crawford killed his wife during a long period of marital conflict. The prosecution argues she died from either strangulation or blunt-force trauma.

Financial losses from the impending divorce form the core of the alleged motive. Cook stated that Crawford wanted to retain the family home and prevent the division of his superannuation. The prosecution contends that Crawford engaged in a sustained effort to disguise the death as an accident after the marriage was on the verge of ending.

Cook described the accused as maintaining a double life, citing strong Christian values that contrasted with his private conduct. The prosecutor labeled Crawford a “love rat” and alleged he was not committed to the marriage. Four women with whom Crawford allegedly had affairs are expected to testify during the proceedings.

Jurors learned that Frances Crawford had set specific boundaries for her husband before her death. These conditions listed sexual or emotional infidelity, pornography, and masturbation as grounds for divorce. She was reportedly undecided about ending the marriage, giving her husband a chance to prove his commitment to her and their children.

Justice Lincoln Crowley instructed the jury that the prosecution would present evidence on the cause of death and the staging of the scene. The jury is set to visit the Upper Lockyer property on Wednesday to examine the site of the alleged killing. Crowley noted that seeing the location would help jurors understand the physical evidence.

Crawford’s defense barrister has not yet delivered an opening statement. The case focuses on whether the death was a homicide or an accident involving the lawnmower and retaining wall on the extensive rural property.