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

Robert John Crawford, a former RAAF pilot, is on trial for allegedly murdering his wife Frances Elizabeth Crawford, 49, on their rural property near Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Crawford pleaded not guilty on Monday to the charge of murder. His wife's body was found near a ride-on lawnmower at the bottom of a retaining wall on their property on 29 July, 2024.

Crawford's alleged motive was financial; he stood to lose in a divorce settlement and wanted to keep possession of the couple's house as well as his superannuation, according to prosecutor Chris Cook.

Prosecutors say Crawford was a "love rat" and "master manipulator" who staged his wife's death to make it appear as a tragic accident. They claim that the couple was on the verge of divorce when Frances died, and Crawford had already set her a list of "deal breakers" that included sexual or emotional infidelities, porn and masturbation, which, if violated, would have led to divorce. Crawford is accused of waffling between divorcing her and giving him a chance to prove himself to her and their children.

Four women with whom Crawford allegedly had affairs are set to be called as witnesses to testify against him. The prosecution alleges that Crawford killed his wife either by strangulation or blunt-force trauma. The jury will also be taken on a tour of the murder scene on Wednesday to better understand the evidence. Crawford's trial is expected to hear from up to 47 witnesses over the next three weeks, and his defense barrister has not yet delivered an opening statement.