The Teacher's Trial

Listen to Hedley Thomas reading Chapter 1 of his new book, The Teacher's Pet. The book is published by Pan Macmillan and is available at all good bookstores, and wherever you get audiobooks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three books on this remarkable story are published: Hedley Thomas’ book The Teacher’s Pet, Shanelle Dawson’s memoir My Mother’s Eyes, and lawyer Rebecca Hazel’s The Schoolgirl, Her Teacher, and His Wife.  To read The Australian's ongoing coverage of the trial, search The Teacher's Accuser or visit theteachersaccuser.com.au.  For daily updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app. The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hedley and the team are back to dissect Judge Sarah Huggett’s three-year sentence for Chris Dawson’s unlawful carnal knowledge of a schoolgirl.  But in another court, a new drama plays out as education authorities try to dodge accountability for his crimes. We hear the first-hand accounts of students who encountered Dawson in his heyday, and examine the prison reality of a man whose narcissism has brought him all the way back to where it all began.  To read The Australian's ongoing coverage of the trial, search The Teacher's Accuser or visit theteachersaccuser.com.au.  For daily updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app. The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grey, shrunken and hiding his face, Chris Dawson is sentenced for unlawful carnal knowledge of a schoolgirl. Hedley Thomas joins us. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read about this story and more on The Australian's website or search for The Australian in your app store. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet, and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Original music is composed by Jasper Leak.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey and David Murray reveal how our smash-hit podcasts get made. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read about this story and more on The Australian's website or search for The Australian in your app store. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Kristen Amiet, and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our regular host is Claire Harvey and original music is composed by Jasper Leak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The accused committed an act of carnal knowledge while she was 16 years of age in his and his pupil.” That was the judgement of Judge Sarah Huggett, who found Christopher Michael Dawson guilty of carnal knowledge on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. She said the complainant’s evidence had a “ring of truth” that could only lead her to this stunning conclusion. In this episode Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey, David Murray, and Matthew Condon discuss the verdict, as well as Chris Dawson’s reaction to it and what it means for the family of Lynette Dawson.  To read The Australian's reporting and analysis of the trial and verdict, search The Teacher's Accuser or visit theteachersaccuser.com.au.  For regular updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app. The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service is on 1800RESPECT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian's global smash-hit podcast Teacher's Pet returns for Australian audiences on July 1. You can find it wherever you got this podcast. Just search for "The Teacher's Pet". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Michael Dawson has been found guilty of carnal knowledge of a complainant who was his student at Cromer High School in 1980. The Front is The Australian's daily news podcast. You can find it wherever you got this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The carnal knowledge trial of Christopher Michael Dawson has officially come to a close. Just as he did in his murder trial, Dawson exercised his right to silence: he did not give evidence in his own defence. In this episode, Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey, David Murray, and Matthew Condon discuss the closing submissions of Crown Prosecutor Emma Blizard and defence barrister Claire Wasley. Plus, we dissect the evidence of the final witnesses called by the Crown. To read The Australian's ongoing coverage of the trial, search The Teacher's Accuser or visit theteachersaccuser.com.au.  For regular updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app. The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I want it to end”: the emotional plea from Chris Dawson’s accuser, AB, during a sometimes fiery courtroom battle with public defender Claire Wasley. At one point, AB dismissed Wasley’s suggestions as “garbage” In this episode, Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey, David Murray, and Matthew Condon analyse AB’s testimony under pressure, and we get to know what Paul Dawson was allegedly up to all those years ago.  To read The Australian's ongoing coverage of the trial, search The Teacher's Accuser or visit theteachersaccuser.com.au.  For live updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app. The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service is free, confidential and 24-7. Just call 1800RESPECT (1800 732 732)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forty-three years after she alleges Christopher Michael Dawson abused her for the first time, the complainant in the convicted murderer’s latest trial has told her story in court.  Identified only as AB for legal reasons, she says she was 16 years old and a student of Dawson's when the alleged sexual activity first took place – a claim Dawson has denied. Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey, David Murray, and Matthew Condon discuss AB’s evidence-in-chief, along with opening statements from Crown prosecutor Emma Blizard and defence barrister Claire Wasley.  To read The Australian's ongoing coverage of the trial, search The Teacher's Accuser or visit theteachersaccuser.com.au.  For daily updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app. The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Handcuffed and in prison greens, Christopher Michael Dawson faces a new charge – this time, unlawful carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old schoolgirl. The charge dates back to 1980, when he was her sports teacher at a Northern Beaches high school.  Dawson denies the charge, and will argue instead they didn't have sex until after her 17th birthday.  We trace this story back to the start, unpack the history of this antiquated-sounding charge, find out what's happening with Dawson's murder appeal, and bring you all the action from Day 1 of this gripping new trial. To read The Australian's ongoing coverage of the trial, search The Teacher's Accuser or visit theteachersaccuser.com.au.  For daily updates, subscribe to The Front in your podcast app. The National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just months into his 24-year prison term for murdering wife Lynette Simms, Chris Dawson is back before the courts, pleading not guilty to carnal knowledge of a schoolgirl in 1980, when he was her sports teacher. Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey, David Murray, Matthew Condon, Kristen Amiet and Jasper Leak return with Season 2 of our acclaimed podcast The Teacher’s Trial.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Michael Dawson will likely die in prison. That was the stark declaration of Justice Ian Harrison SC in the NSW Supreme Court, sentencing Dawson to 24 years imprisonment with no chance of parole until 2040. We hear every word of Justice Ian Harrison’s sentencing remarks, plus reactions from Lyn and Chris’ family, and from the police and lawyers. And we revisit some of the voices you heard right at the beginning of this podcast investigation: the women who believed Lyn had been murdered, and who refused to be silent. Plus, Hedley meets one very special member of our audience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lyn's oldest daughter, Shanelle Dawson, walked into a Sydney courtroom and spoke from the heart about the killing of her mother, the selfishness of her father, and the ongoing damage to her life as a result of the murder. Shanelle's extraordinary victim impact statement, delivered by her through tears, sorrow and anger, brought witnesses and even court staff to tears. Lyn's siblings, Greg Simms and Pat Jenkins, shared their pain too, as Justice Ian Harrison weighed the sentence he will impose on convicted killer Chris Dawson, 40 years after Lyn's death. To read The Australian's ongoing coverage of the trial, search 'The Teacher's Trial' or go here. The National Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Counselling Service can be reached on 1800RESPECT. Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.