Chris Dawson: The place daughter believes mom Lyn was buried

Talking publicly for the primary time since her father was discovered responsible of killing her mom over 40 years in the past, Shanelle Dawson informed 60 Minutes of “poisonous” and “manipulative” atmosphere during which she grew up.

Shanelle was four-years-old when her mom Lynette Dawson disappeared with no hint from their Bayview residence on Sydney’s northern seashores greater than 40 years in the past.

Following a judge-alone trial earlier than Justice Ian Harrison, Dawson was in August discovered responsible of murdering his spouse and was not too long ago moved to a jail in regional NSW amid issues for his security.

“I heard them say, ‘Chris Dawson, I discover you responsible’ and was simply in shock,’” Ms Dawson informed 60 Minutes in an interview broadcast on Sunday evening.

“I simply couldn’t fathom it actually. It simply felt so surreal.”

Lynette Dawson disappeared from her Bayview residence in January 1982, forsaking Shanelle and her youngest daughter, who was simply two.

Dawson informed officers throughout his solely police interview in 1991 that he had dropped off his spouse at a Mova Vale bus cease on the morning of January 9, 1982 nevertheless she failed to fulfill up with them on the Northbridge Baths.

Shanelle stated that for 40 years she was informed by her father that her mom had run away.

Nonetheless Justice Harrison discovered that Dawson murdered his spouse so he may very well be with a 17-year-old babysitter, who can solely be often known as JC.

Shanelle stated that whereas dwelling in America for 9 years, she got here to grasp that he had fostered an “abusive” atmosphere for her whereas rising up.

“I might see that he was manipulative and gasoline lighting us on a regular basis,” Ms Dawson stated.

Lynette’s dying created a schism via the household and Shanelle stated she had been reduce off by Chris’s aspect and her sister, who has supported their father.

“My father undoubtedly embodies the survival of the fittest, f*** everybody else. Simply do what that you must do to get what you need,” Ms Dawson stated.

“And I really feel a variety of anger and rage in the direction of him for being that manner, however I concurrently really feel compassion and unhappiness that he’s that manner.”

THE POOL

In 2013, with the investigation at a lifeless finish, the officers answerable for the case, Detective Damian Loone, put Shanelle underneath hypnosis.

She stated throughout the session she uncovered reminiscences of sitting within the household station wagon along with her mom slumped within the entrance seat and of Chris burying her mom beneath the household pool.

“It was like I might really feel myself as a four-and-a-half-year-old youngster once more,” Shanelle stated.

“I might really feel the emotions that she felt on the time. It was actually fairly profound.

“I consider I noticed my sister and I behind a automobile, of our station wagon, and my mom slumped within the entrance.

“I consider I noticed him shining headlights on a spot close to the pool and digging. I consider that he buried her in that spot for that evening, after which the following day when he didn’t have us children, moved her someplace else.”

Ms Dawson stated she accepted that some folks would query how a lot of the recollection was actual.

When requested whether or not she believed they have been true reminiscences, she stated: “I feel they’re, sure.”

THE LAST TEXTS

She final spoke to her father in 2018, three months earlier than his arrest, when she despatched him a textual content message confronting him.

“I received’t stay a life primarily based on lies, nor will I preserve subjecting myself to emotional manipulation and management,” she stated within the textual content message.

“You’ve gotten dishonoured our mom so terribly, and likewise my sister and I, via all of this. No extra. In the future I’ll forgive you for eradicating her so selfishly from our lives.”

She implored him to take duty for what he had accomplished, however he as an alternative blamed her.

Shanelle informed 60 Minutes that her father replied: “You’re clearly very lonely and depressed within the life you’ve gotten chosen.

“ little or no about what was happening in my life, or your sister’s. It’s your grownup life, now 41, with a baby and with no accomplice. That has clearly brought on this horrible melancholy.

“All of us, sadly, must stay with the alternatives we make. I OWN my poor decisions, and also you by no means must remind me of them.”

Simply days after Lynette was murdered, JC was moved into the household’s residence by Dawson and acted as Shanelle’s substitute mom.

JC, throughout her testimony, informed the Supreme Court docket that she was groomed by Dawson from a younger age.

Shanelle stated she didn’t blame JC, however felt like she might have acted in another way.

“I really feel very unhappy for her. I really feel unhappy that I don’t know why she made the alternatives she did,” Ms Dawson stated.

“I do know for myself having babysat and nannies in a number of, a number of properties … And fortunately none of these dads ever hit on me.

“However I do know as a 17-year-old, I nonetheless would’ve had the capability, even with my background, to say, ‘no, that’s not okay. You’re a married man’.”

LYN’S LAW

The police case stagnated for many years earlier than journalist Hedley Thomas, via the Instructor’s Pet podcast, shone a lightweight on the case.

Dawson was arrested and extradited from Queensland in 2018 earlier than he confronted trial this 12 months the place Justice Harrison discovered he informed a long time of lies to cowl up his crimes.

Dawson maintains he’s not responsible and his legal professionals have filed an intention to enchantment the decision.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has moved to introduce “no physique, no parole” legal guidelines designed to entice folks convicted of homicide to disclose the place sufferer’s our bodies are buried.

The invoice has been dubbed “Lyn’s regulation”.

Dawson will face a sentence listening to in Sydney’s Supreme Court docket subsequent month earlier than he learns his destiny at a later date.

Nonetheless Ms Dawson stated she doubted her father would ever admit to murdering her mom.

“That will be unbelievable,” Ms Dawson stated.

“I don’t suppose he’s going to, personally. I simply suppose he believes his personal lies and he received’t admit it.

“He may come to must admit it to himself after sitting in jail for a while, however I don’t suppose will probably be anytime quickly.”