Overview
- The body of Frances Elizabeth Crawford was found near a ride-on lawnmower at the couple’s Upper Lockyer Valley property on July 30, 2024 and she was declared dead shortly after paramedics arrived.
- The prosecution alleges Robert John Crawford strangled his wife, moved her down a retaining wall and staged the scene to look like a lawnmower accident, including sending messages from her phone after her death.
- Crawford’s defence says the death was a tragic lawnmower accident and that he attempted CPR before emergency services arrived, and he has pleaded not guilty to murder and misconduct with a corpse.
- Acting Justice Glenn Martin indicated at a May 25, 2026 pre-trial hearing that jurors will be ordered to physically inspect the rural scene because photos and models cannot fully convey its layout and scale.
- A full trial is expected later in 2026 and pre-trial arguments will focus on what the jury may hear about the couple’s relationship and on contested digital and forensic evidence that could shape witness testimony.