Brisbane Court: Former RAAF Pilot Denies Wife's Murder

Robert Crawford has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife in a Brisbane supreme court case.

The 49-year-old former Royal Australian Air Force pilot entered his plea on Monday, 26 October. The case is now before a jury. Frances Elizabeth Crawford died on 29 July 2024 at the couple's rural property in Upper Lockyer. Her body was found next to a ride-on lawnmower at the bottom of a retaining wall. The property is located west of Toowoomba. Prosecutor Chris Cook told the jury that Crawford staged the scene to make the death look like an accident.

Cook claimed the marriage was ending when Frances died. The prosecution argued that Crawford wanted to keep the family home and avoid splitting his superannuation fund. Justice Lincoln Crowley explained that the state will argue Frances died from strangulation or blunt-force trauma. These causes form the core of the case the jury will examine. Crawford's defense has not yet delivered an opening statement.

Cook also alleged that Crawford led a double life. He described the accused as a "love rat" who presented strong Christian values to the public but behaved differently in private. Four women with whom Crawford allegedly had affairs are expected to testify. The jury heard that Frances had set specific boundaries for her husband to stay in the marriage. These conditions included prohibitions on sexual or emotional infidelity, pornography, and masturbation.

The trial is set to continue for the next three weeks. Prosecutors plan to call up to 47 witnesses to the stand. The jury is scheduled to visit the Upper Lockyer property on Wednesday. Justice Crowley instructed them to view the location where the alleged killing occurred. He said the site visit would help them understand the evidence presented in the courtroom.