Lie-detector claim in alleged lawn mower murder case

A woman had been adamant her unfaithful husband take lie detector tests to help decide whether to stay with him before she was found dead next to a lawnmower, a jury has heard.

Dubbed a “love rat” by the prosecutor, Robert John Crawford is accused of murdering his wife Frances at the couple’s property west of Brisbane in the early hours of July 30, 2024.

Former RAAF pilot Crawford allegedly strangled his wife then staged her death to make it appear she had fallen from a ride-on mower at the Upper Lockyer property near Toowoomba.

Crawford, 49, has pleaded not guilty to murder at his Brisbane Supreme Court trial which continued on Monday.

His wife had sought out psychotherapy for the couple after trying counsellors and their church groups, Dr Fakhrolsadat Seyed Aghamiri testified.

“She wanted therapeutic disclosure to find out exactly what had been happening throughout the marriage,” Aghamiri said.

“She said she had made lots and lots of discoveries and she was very uncertain as ‘the more I dig, the more there is I find out’.”

The couple had sessions with Aghamiri from October 2023 to late July, 2024, the jury heard.

Crawford disclosed details of sexual affairs, emotional infidelity, financial deception and pornography use over a five-year period during a multi-page disclosure document he supplied for the sessions.

His wife sought her services specifically for her husband to undergo a polygraph test, Aghamiri said.

“She was not sure the truth would be disclosed so she was adamant that she wanted the polygraph test to verify the disclosure.”

Crawford asked to repeat a polygraph test that returned inconclusive results, claiming he had been nervous, the jury heard.

He later told Aghamiri he had researched polygraphs and how to beat the test.

Crawford sometimes cried during sessions and said he loved his wife and was doing his best to reconcile the marriage with God’s help.

Other times he appeared to lack empathy and remorse, claiming Mrs Crawford had brainwashed his adult children and made him “look like a monster”, the jury heard.

“He said she wants to ruin me professionally, wants to ruin my reputation and wants to take my money,” Aghamiri said.

During what would be the final session on July 25, 2024, Crawford joined late and by phone because he was busy at work.

“I told him ‘you know your wife is planning to leave the marriage permanently and you are talking about work’,” Aghamiri said.

“He said it was not a good day.”

His wife was working on an “exit plan” for her marriage separation, the jury heard.

“She said I have to be very, very careful to keep the status quo and not rock the boat otherwise he will not leave the house,” Aghamiri said.

The jury earlier heard from RAAF officer Melinda Russell, who said she had a professional relationship and friendship with Crawford as his deputy.

Crawford had texted Russell about his wife wanting him to take long service leave.

“Why, so you can yell at me every day?” Crawford texted.

Crawford also talked to Russell about not knowing why his wife was yelling at him and they discussed de-escalation tips, the jury heard.