{
  "id": 16805143,
  "title": "Emotional abuse claim aired by mistress in murder trial",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/emotional-abuse-claim-aired-by-mistress-in-murder-trial",
  "topic": null,
  "section": null,
  "published": "2026-10-27T18:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://irrigator.com.au/story/9381184/emotional-abuse-claim-aired-by-mistress-in-murder-trial"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A woman whose body was discovered close to a ride-on mower has claimed her former lover's husband was emotionally abusive, a court has learned. Robert Crawford, 49, stands accused of murdering his wife Frances on July 29, 2024. Prosecutors claim he strangled his wife and then manipulated the scene by placing the mower to make her death seem like an unfortunate accident. They also allege he fabricated text messages with his wife on the fateful night to conceal his actions. The trial has heard that Crawford had been unfaithful during their marriage. On Tuesday, one of the women with whom Crawford had an affair, Emily Renshaw, testified. She stated that Crawford told her his wife was emotionally abusive, calling him a narcissist and describing her as cold and prone to arguments in front of their children. The court has heard that Mrs Crawford closely monitored her husband's finances and communications, requiring him to undergo frequent polygraph tests. Ms Renshaw testified that Crawford expressed his unhappiness and feelings of being trapped, alone, and isolated in the marriage, but he was hesitant to leave due to family, financial, and social reasons. Ms Renshaw said she blocked his wife's number after their breakup. The jury also heard from another woman, Sarah Goodsell, a friend of Crawford's who was privy to intimate details about their marriage. Mrs Crawford had falsely suspected her husband of an affair with Ms Goodsell. A friend of Mrs Crawford's, Elizabeth Calabria, told the jury that Frances had realized her husband would not change and hoped he would fail the polygraph test as part of their reconciliation agreement. The trial is ongoing, set to continue on Wednesday before Justice Lincoln Crowley.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}