Former RAAF pilot on trial for alleged murder of wife in Queensland

Robert John Crawford, 49, a former Royal Australian Air Force pilot, appeared before a Brisbane Supreme Court jury on Monday and entered a not-guilty plea to the murder of his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford, whose body was discovered near a ride-on lawnmower on their rural property west of Toowoomba on 29 July 2024.

Prosecutor Chris Cook told the jury that the killing occurred amid a prolonged breakdown of the marriage and that Crawford subsequently attempted to portray the death as an accident. The prosecution said Crawford stood to lose significant assets in a divorce settlement, including the family home and superannuation, and that financial considerations motivated the alleged crime.

Four women alleged to have had affairs with Crawford are expected to testify. The court was also informed that the couple were on the brink of divorce, with the victim having set specific boundaries for the marriage, including prohibitions on infidelity and certain behaviours.

"He made out to be a man with good Christian values," Cook said, adding that Crawford's actions did not align with that public image.

Justice Lincoln Crowley indicated that the jury would be taken to the crime scene on Wednesday to better understand the evidence. The trial is slated to hear testimony from up to 47 witnesses over the next three weeks. Crawford's defence counsel has not yet presented an opening statement.