‘Love rat’ RAAF pilot loved women, money so much he killed his wife over it, court hears

A former Royal Australian Air Force pilot accused of murder was a “love rat” who lived a double life and was motivated to kill his wife so he would not lose millions of dollars in a divorce, a court has heard.

Robert John Crawford, 48, is accused of killing his wife Frances Elizabeth Crawford at their Upper Lockyer Valley home west of Brisbane in July 2024.

Crawford, who appeared composed in court, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder on Monday in the Supreme Court.

The former squadron leader who was based at Amberley is alleged to have staged the death at the rural property to look like an accident involving a ride on lawnmower.

In opening the case, Crown Prosecutor Chris Cook showed the jury a photo of Mrs Crawford’s body laying beside the mower at the bottom a retaining wall at the rural property.

Cook said it was Mr Crawford’s account that he was asleep, he “woke up and wandered around for a while and found his beloved wife dead there at the bottom of the wall”.

“Now, apparently she was out in the middle of the night, a very cold night in Upper Lockyer … and she was worried about sprinklers,” he said.

Her death came against the backdrop of her husband’s infidelity, the court heard, with Cook describing Mr Crawford as a cheater, adulterer, love rat, womaniser and master manipulator.

“Mr Crawford was interested in other women and not committed to his marriage,” Cook said.

Cook said the pair had separated about a year earlier. The court heard that in July 2023, Mr Crawford had sent his wife a message that read: “And I say this with love … Simply put, why would you believe for even a fraction of a second that I’d ever agree to leave my own house permanently? I think you know in your heart that I’d never ever do that…”

Cook said: “Robert Crawford. He’s a man of his word. He spent the next eight or nine months getting his way back into the house.”

Cook said he was allowed back into the house in May 2024 on a trial period of three months.

He said Mrs Crawford struggled with ending the relationship, and wavered at times between divorce and giving her husband another chance.

The pair had agreed to a set of boundaries as part of the reconciliation, the court heard. The conditions, shown to the jury, included Mr Crawford avoiding interactions with females, letting his wife know of his whereabouts, to attend church with her, and for him to not lie.

Severe boundary violations included emotional or sexual affairs, porn and masturbation.

Cook said the accused was motivated to kill his wife because he had a long-term interest in other women, he stood to lose out financially in a divorce settlement, and he stood to benefit financially from his wife’s untimely death.

Cook said Mr Crawford wanted to retain possession of their home, and did not want to split his lucrative superannuation of $1.7 million with his wife in any settlement.

He also stood to lose the property on Thomas Road, the court heard.

“This is the house he had built, a house that he was so proud of, a house that he loved, a property which had a value up to $2.6 million,” Cook said.

“Robert Crawford loves money … loved it so much that he killed for it.”

Cook said while Mr Crawford had been a squadron leader based at Amberley, in Ipswich, he was someone who “lived a double life for a long time”.

His wife was a devout Christian, who did everything for her children and had moved around for Mr Crawford’s career with the RAAF, Cook said.

“She wanted to be loved, she wanted to be loved by her husband,” Cook said.

“You’ll hear that Frances Crawford didn’t feel safe. You’ll hear that from Frances very close in time from when the Crown says she was murdered.”

Several pilots and personnel within the RAAF, and women who had relationships with Crawford, are expected to be called in the trial. Medical and forensic experts are also scheduled to give evidence.

The jury are expected to visit the Upper Lockyer home next week during the trial, which is scheduled to run for up to three weeks.

Crawford was represented by defence barrister Saul Holt KC.

The trial before Justice Lincoln Crowley continues.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service (1800RESPECT) on 1800 737 732.

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