Claims extracted
24
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
8%
2 of 24 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
61/100
The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
4
Crime & Law
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
A pilot accused of killing his wife and staging her death to look like a mower accident told a woman he was dating that he blamed his wife for not being able to go to church, and he was “enjoying being single” while they were separating, a court has heard.
asserted
court → accuse → church
Former Royal Australian Air Force pilot Robert Crawford has pleaded not guilty to killing his wife Frances at their sprawling property in rural south-east Queensland in July 2024.
asserted
Crawford → plead → July
His defence team has told the jury Frances’ death was a tragic accident, and Crawford believed she died while moving the mower because the sprinklers were going to come on.
The trial earlier heard Crawford, 49, had a string of affairs dating back more than a decade, including with three RAAF colleagues.
asserted
Crawford → tell → colleagues
He told one of the colleagues he worried leaving his wife would affect his claim to the family property and his superannuation, the court heard.
uncertain
court → tell → property
In admissions put before the court by the prosecution on Wednesday, further details of Crawford’s relationships were read out.
asserted
details → put → relationships
He also had a relationship with buyer’s agent Rebecca Lawler in the months after his separation from Frances in mid-2023.
asserted
He → have → mid-2023
The pair met while Crawford was moving to Sherwood, in Brisbane’s south, during the break.
asserted
Crawford → meet → break
Crawford texted Lawler in October that year, saying: “Thanks for the snacks Bec.
asserted
Crawford → texte → snacks
You didn’t have to bring those, but thank you all the same.
asserted
You → have → you
He texted her again: “Hey Bec, hope your auctions went well?
asserted
auctions → texte → her
I’m enjoying the chocolate.
asserted
I → enjoy → chocolate
Don’t suppose you need a break this afternoon?
asserted
you → suppose → break
Come help me eat it hahaha I’ve got today off
asserted
I → help → today
The jury heard the pair exchanged 9979 messages and photos between October and November 2023.
asserted
pair → hear → October
In early October, during a dinner at the Sherwood property, he told Lawler he and his wife were exploring divorce.
asserted
he → tell → divorce
According to the admissions, Crawford blamed Frances for him not being able to go to his church any more, and he did not know if his marriage was salvageable.
uncertain
marriage → accord → church
He also said he was enjoying being single.
asserted
he → say → ?
While together, Crawford and Lawler discussed his Upper Lockyer property, the court heard.
asserted
court → discuss → property
He told Lawler the property was “his home too”, they had built and designed it, and that it meant a lot to him.
asserted
it → tell → him
He also said he was annoyed he had to move out, while Frances got to stay.
asserted
Frances → say → ?
On Tuesday, the jury was read Crawford’s police statement, which included details of the couple’s night before he dialled Triple Zero in the early hours of July 30, 2024.
asserted
he → read → July
Crawford’s psychologist, Julie Salter, earlier told the court Crawford had told her his wife was “moody” on the night of her death.
asserted
wife → tell → death
Her death came days after the couple’s last session with a psychotherapist, who earlier told the trial Frances had been working on an “exit plan” to leave the marriage.
asserted
Frances → come → marriage
The trial before Justice Lincoln Crowley continues.
asserted
trial → continue → Crowley
The Aporia
