Pilot accused of killing wife in ‘murderous rage’ and using lawnmower to cover it up in dramatic court scenes

New details of the case against a Queensland RAAF pilot accused of murdering his wife and staging her death to look like a tragic accident have been revealed in court. The Brisbane Supreme Court heard contested allegations during a bail application on Monday, with the prosecution claiming Robert John Crawford went into a “murderous rage” before killing his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford, and then attempting to cover up the crime at their Upper Lockyer property. Crawford, 47, who was not present at the hearing, is charged with the murder of Ms Crawford, 49, whose body was found at the base of a retaining wall near a ride-on mower at their property about 3.40am on July 30, 2024. Crown prosecutor Chris Cook described Crawford as a “master manipulator” that flew into a “murderous rage,” strangled his wife inside their home, and then attempted to disguise the crime by placing her body under the mower to make it appear she died in a freak accident. “This man will go to great lengths to conceal his crime and escape punishment,” Mr Cook told the court. “He manipulated the scene after killing his wife.” The court was told the couple’s marriage was deteriorating after years of infidelity, which Crawford’s lawyer said he admitted to. Mr Cook said there were signs the relationship was ending and alleged after Crawford killed his wife, he sent messages to himself from his wife’s phone to make it seem she had gone outside to move the mower before being killed. “Are you going to put the mower away soon?” Crawford reportedly texted his wife during the night. “Just give me a sec,” she reportedly replied. Crawford told police he woke in the middle of the night, rolled over and noticed his wife was missing, prompting him to search for her. However, a photo shown to the judge on Monday depicted the couple’s bed as made and undisturbed, though Justice Frances Williams noted the doona could have been pulled up to appear that way. Mr Cook also highlighted several inconsistencies, such as unwashed dishes and Ms Crawford’s rings left on the kitchen counter, details he said indicated she was still in the middle of her nightly routine. He argued it made little sense for her to have gone outside near midnight to move a lawnmower. Crawford’s lawyer, Saul Holt, said the couple had previously discussed moving the mower, as its battery was charging and the sprinklers were scheduled to turn on. He said that after discovering his wife, he tried to lift the 260kg mower and immediately called triple-0 before attempting to resusitate her. Mr Holt described it as a “tragic accident”. A small amount of blood from both Mr and Mrs Crawford was reportedly found in their ensuite bathroom, including traces in the shower. Mr Holt argued it was illogical that, given the extent of Ms Crawford’s head laceration, there was no significant blood found inside the house or along the path where he allegedly moved her body. Crawford reportedly had only a faint mark on his left ring finger, an injury his lawyer argued was insufficient to explain the presence of his blood. Mr Holt suggested that traces of his wife’s blood in the bathroom could be accounted for by his attempts to save her, followed by showering afterward. The defence also cast doubt on the forensic conclusions, noting that although a doctor found the cause of death leaned towards manual strangulation, they acknowledged the possibility of a mower accident could not be ruled out. A professor expected to testify for the Crown concluded that the death was inconsistent with an accident, though Mr Holt dismissed the opinion as “completely unrealistic” and vigorously disputed many of the professor’s conclusions. Mr Holt labelled the Crown’s case as “very weak,” arguing the likelihood of it being thrown out at the committal stage was “entirely live.” He argued there is no history of violence, no previous convictions, and no allegations of physical abuse towards his wife. Mr Cook countered by stating that some of the defence claims were “fanciful” and that the crown had a “strong” case. The court was also told that Crawford’s children, who are expected to be witnesses in the case, had a “bad relationship” with their father. One witness reportedly described Crawford in a statement as “controlling” and “intimidating.” The court was told that after his wife’s death, Crawford flew to Papua New Guinea for a business trip, a journey his lawyer said had been planned prior to her death. Mr Holt said he had a longstanding career with the RAAF and was supported by a small but dedicated group in the community. His father also offered a $250,000 surety to secure bail. Mr Cook argued against bail, stating Crawford was a flight risk. He referenced Crawford’s pilot licence, his access to light aircraft, and his recent passport renewal applications, noting that he holds multiple passports, including a diplomatic one. Judge Williams reserved her decision to be delivered at a later date.