A crying air force pilot accused of murdering his wife asked police "where will they put her?" in the hours after her death, in body-worn camera footage played to the Supreme Court on Monday.
Robert Crawford, 49, has pleaded not guilty in the trial before Justice Lincoln Crowley. The prosecution alleges he killed Frances at their Upper Lockyer property, west of Brisbane, in July 2024 so he would not lose millions of dollars in a divorce, and staged her death as an accident. Crown prosecutor Chris Cook told the court last week that Crawford loved money so much "that he killed for it", while the defence, led by barrister Saul Holt KC, has told the jury the death was a tragic accident and that lawn mower rollovers were not uncommon.
In the footage, taken when emergency services arrived in the early hours of July 30, 2024, Crawford sat crying at the kitchen table, covering his face with his hand and at one point putting his head on the table for several minutes. Sergeant Glen Thomas explained that Frances would be transported to Brisbane for an examination to determine how she died. Crawford said his wife would not want to undergo an autopsy, and Thomas said arrangements for the funeral could be made after she was released.
Crawford told Thomas he had been "literally just talking to" Frances, that the couple had had dinner and played games, and that he had taken work calls. Asked about injuries, he said his back hurt. Police saw wedding rings in the kitchen and Frances' dressing gown on the bench.
Crawford said the ride-on mower, near which Frances's body was found, was the one the couple used around the house because it had a catch, and told police he had not heard it turn on. Thomas told the court he did not notice any timer on the sprinkler control box while at the property. In speaking with another officer, Crawford said "Frances, like, she doesn't want the mower to get wet", before sobbing "Why couldn't she just wait?"
He said he thought his wife might have fallen asleep while watching TV, but then discovered she was not there. "I was just looking for her and just calling out, and I couldn't see her," he said, becoming emotional. Police apologised to Crawford for asking so many questions at a sensitive time; he later says "This is really horrible."
Under cross-examination by the defence, Thomas confirmed he became aware that Crawford had showered, but that it was after he had been questioned and examined by police. The jury last week heard Crawford's 3.37am call to Triple Zero, in which he told the operator he had "no idea" how long his wife, who was "so cold", had been outside unconscious, and that he "thought she was watching Netflix".
The trial continues, with the jury expected to visit the Crawford property later this week.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The footage is central to the murder trial: the jury heard what Crawford said and how he behaved in the hours after his wife's death, which will weigh on his credibility.
- The case turns on whether the death was staged as an accident, as the prosecution alleges, or the tragic lawn mower rollover the defence describes.
- It is a Supreme Court murder trial of a serving RAAF pilot heard in Queensland.
Background
Robert Crawford is on trial for the murder of his wife Frances, whose body was found near a ride-on lawn mower at their Upper Lockyer home in July 2024. The prosecution alleges he killed her to avoid losing millions of dollars in a divorce, and the court has heard he was described as a "love rat" who had affairs with at least 10 women over a decade, including with three RAAF colleagues. The defence maintains the death was an accident.
Key Perspectives
Crown prosecutor Chris Cook: told the court last week that Crawford loved money so much "that he killed for it", and the prosecution alleges he staged his wife's death as an accident to avoid losing millions in a divorce.
Defence led by barrister Saul Holt KC: has told the jury the death was a tragic accident and that lawn mower rollovers were not uncommon; Crawford has pleaded not guilty.
What to Watch
- The jury's planned visit to the Crawford property later this week, where the mower and the scene will be examined.
- Further police evidence in the continuing trial, including the timing of events after Frances's death was discovered.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedFootage shows Crawford asking, “where will they put her?”Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Crawford can be heard asking “where will they put her?” as he sat crying at the kitchen table.”
- SupportedCrawford cried at his kitchen table in police body-worn camera footage played to the Supreme Court.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “On Monday, the court was shown police body-worn camera footage”
- SupportedCrawford told officers his wife would not want an autopsy.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Crawford said his wife would not want to undergo an autopsy.”
- SupportedCrawford is an air force pilot accused of murdering his wife, and asked police where they would take her body in the hours after her death.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “A crying air force pilot accused of murdering his wife asked police where they would take her body, telling investigators in the hours after her death she would not want to be autopsied.”
- SupportedCrawford, 49, has pleaded not guilty and is on trial before Justice Lincoln Crowley.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Robert Crawford, 49, is accused of killing Frances”
- SupportedThe prosecution alleges Crawford killed Frances at their Upper Lockyer property in July 2024.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Crawford can be heard asking “where will they put her?” as he sat crying at the kitchen table.”
- SupportedThe prosecution alleges Crawford killed Frances to avoid losing millions of dollars in a divorce and staged her death as an accident.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Robert Crawford, 49, is accused of killing Frances at their rural south-east Queensland property so he would not lose millions of dollars in a divorce, and staging her death as an accident”
- SupportedCrown prosecutor Chris Cook told the court last week that Crawford loved money so much “that he killed for it”.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Crown Prosecutor Chris Cook told the court last week that Crawford loved money so much “that he killed for it”.”
- SupportedThe defence has told the jury the death was a tragic accident and lawn mower rollovers were not uncommon.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Crawford’s defence team, led by barrister Saul Holt KC, has told the jury the death was a tragic accident, and that lawn mower rollovers were not uncommon.”
- SupportedThe body-camera footage was taken when emergency services arrived at the Upper Lockyer home in the early hours of July 30, 2024.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “police body-worn camera footage taken when emergency services arrived at their home in Upper Lockyer, west of Brisbane, in the early hours of July 30, 2024.”
- SupportedCrawford said, “Frances, like, she doesn't want the mower to get wet”, then sobbed, “Why couldn't she just wait?”Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Crawford said: “Frances, like, she doesn’t want the mower to get wet”. He then sobbed while saying: “Why couldn’t she just wait?””
- SupportedThe jury heard Crawford’s 3.37am Triple Zero call, in which he said he had “no idea” how long his wife had been outside unconscious and thought she was watching Netflix.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The jury last week heard Crawford’s 3.37am call to Triple Zero, where he told the operator he had “no idea” how long his wife, who was “so cold” had been outside unconscious , and that he “thought she was watching Netflix”.”