11 hours ago
Major update after air force pilot was accused of staging wife's lawnmower death
An air force pilot accused of killing his wife and staging her death to look like a lawnmower accident has been charged with breaching bail.
Robert John Crawford was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse in October 2024, months after his wife was found dead near a ride-on mower west of Brisbane.
The 47-year-old is accused of strangling his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford, in a 'murderous rage' then moving her body to stage her death to look like a late-night accident.
Ms Crawford was found dead near the mower at a rural Upper Lockyer property in July 2024.
Crawford was granted bail in the Queensland Supreme Court in May on strict conditions after almost seven months in custody.
Conditions included a $250,000 surety and a night-time curfew.
Crawford was charged with breach of bail on Saturday.
He has reportedly entered into a new bail undertaking and is due to next appear on the matter in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on August 14.
Crawford had called emergency services about 3.40am on July 30, 2024 and told them he found his wife at the bottom of a retaining wall and a lawnmower had fallen on her.
He told police his wife got up during the night to move the lawnmower away from automated water sprinklers.
Prosecutors previously said Crawford was charged on the basis of 'inconsistencies' between his statement to police and expert analysis of the forensic evidence.
Crown prosecutor Chris Cook previously said the forensic report favoured strangulation as the cause of death rather than pressure from the ride-on's steering wheel.
During an April bail hearing, defence barrister Saul Holt said 'very weak' interpretations of forensic evidence had been used to charge his client.
Crawford's murder charge is set to be heard on October 8 at Ipswich Magistrates Court for committal proceedings.
