Murder trial jury to visit property where Frances Crawford died

Jurors tasked with determining whether a former RAAF pilot killed his wife will today visit the southern Queensland property where she died.

Robert Crawford has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 49-year-old Frances Crawford in July 2024.

Prosecutors allege he caused her death by strangulation and/or inflicting blunt force trauma at their Upper Lockyer home before staging it to appear she had an accidental ride-on mower rollover.

His lawyers argue she died in a tragic accident.

On day seven of a Supreme Court trial being heard in Brisbane, the jury is expected to travel to the rural property to conduct a viewing.

The jury were told they would spend about an hour at the site and would be shown several locations.

They were told to wear sunscreen and bring hats and an umbrella in case it rains.

Mr Crawford, legal parties, the presiding trial judge and police are among those who are permitted to be present.

Rules detailed in handwritten notes

The jury has already heard that the couple had been dealing with ongoing relationship issues, which resulted from years of infidelity on Mr Crawford's part.

In mid-2023, the couple separated, but in the months before Mrs Crawford's death, Mr Crawford moved back into the family home on a trial basis, the jury has already heard.

On Tuesday, the jury were shown dozens of alleged crime scene photographs, which included a notebook which they heard was found in a pantry in the kitchen after her death.

In handwritten notes, which the prosecution allege were authored by Mrs Crawford and were not dated, one entry said, "Living with Rob is a lot harder than I thought" and that it was not "romantic".

"I find I have less hope than before he moved back in," the note went on to say.

"I feel like giving up most of the time and I question why I am still in this relationship."

Another entry said Mr Crawford remained silent when his "long-term girlfriends" were criticised for having "no integrity" and "sleeping with a married man".

"He never backs me," the note said.

"His silence can be taken for defence of the girl."

A further note said, "He wants us to be able to share all our money" and mentioned "not having my own bank account for safety".

"I do not feel safe with any of this," that note went on to say.

Also written in the notebook were two costs versus benefits lists, with the headings "stay" and "leave", as well as several rules and consequences if broken.

Some of the rules listed in the notes shown to the jury were, "no conversations with any women that is not related to work", "no cheating", "no porn" and "no masturbation".

The jury has already heard that, in the months before Mrs Crawford's death, Mr Crawford agreed to a list of boundaries for when they reconciled.

Blood stains on wall, bath mat

A Queensland Police Service forensic scientist also took the witness stand and testified about blood found in different places at the home, with several photographs shown to the jury.

Sergeant Owen Esaias told the jury he determined there were two plausible reasons for the blood stains found on a rock retaining wall above where Ms Crawford's body was found.

He said the most likely causes would be an already existing injury had come into contact with it, or an injury was caused as a result of contact with it.

"I put equal weight on those two scenarios," he said.

Photographs of a towel and a bath mat found in the couple's ensuite with blood on them were also shown to the jury.

The jury has already heard Mr Crawford had Mrs Crawford's blood on him after attempting CPR and had taken a shower in the ensuite after being interviewed by officers.

Sergeant Esaias told the jury there were limitations when analysing fabrics; however, he determined the most plausible cause of the blood on the bath mat was from "drip stains".

"That is where blood is falling vertically from a blood source … however, there are a number of other blood staining types I couldn't completely eliminate," he said.

Under cross-examination, he accepted the most likely source of the blood on the towel was due to the transfer from Mr Crawford when he showered.