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‘Biggest cheat in the world’: Wife’s texts to RAAF pilot husband before she was found dead next to lawnmower
A jury at Robert Crawford’s murder trial has heard text messages in which his wife, Frances, confronted him about repeated infidelities and called him “the biggest cheat in the world”. Crawford, a former RAAF pilot, denies murdering her; prosecutors allege he strangled her and staged her death as a lawnmower accident, making the messages and the couple’s relationship central to the case.
Frances Crawford, a psychologist and mother of three, was found dead beside an overturned ride-on mower at the couple’s property west of Brisbane on 30 July 2024. Crawford says she suffered crushing injuries or traumatic asphyxia while moving the mower near sprinklers. The jury has also heard disputed late-night messages about putting the mower away, followed by Crawford’s emergency call at 3.35am; he has pleaded not guilty.
In short
- Frances Crawford’s texts about her husband’s infidelity were shown at his murder trial.
- Prosecutors allege Robert Crawford staged her death as a lawnmower accident.
- Crawford denies murder and says she was crushed by the mower.