Chris Dawson Appeal on Sex Conviction Rejected

Chris Dawson, a 76-year-old former Sydney teacher, has lost his appeal against his conviction for carnal knowledge of a student in the 1980s, with the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal dismissing the appeal by a 2-1 majority. Dawson is already serving a 24-year sentence for murdering his wife Lynette in 1982, and the sexual abuse conviction added one year to his non-parole period, making him eligible for release in 2041 at age 93. The court found that Dawson groomed and manipulated the underage student while she was in his class. Two justices upheld the conviction, while one dissented, arguing the verdict was unreasonable and not proven beyond reasonable doubt. The full reasons for the court's decision have not yet been published. The case remains in the public eye due to the historical offenses and Dawson's high-profile murder conviction.