Chris Dawson will be extradited to NSW over the suspected murder of his wife, Lynette, who disappeared from their Sydney home nearly 37 years ago.
An application for bail was refused by Queensland magistrate Dennis Kinsella and Dawson was taken into custody of NSW detectives. He's now expected to face a Parramatta court on Thursday.
The 70-year-old former Newtown Jets rugby league player appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Queensland's Gold Coast, following his arrest, and applied to be bailed to live with his brother in NSW.
Mr Kinsella described the police case as "circumstantial" given his wife's body has never been found and the court heard Mr Dawson had "cooperated" with investigators.
Chris Dawson has applied for bail after being charged with his wife's death. Source: Supplied
Ms Dawson was 33 when she went missing from Sydney's northern beaches in January 1982, leaving behind two young daughters.
Police said two fresh witness statements led to the 70-year-old's arrest on the Gold Coast, with officers saying Mr Dawson was "a bit taken back" when he was arrested at his home.
The 70-year-old was arrested by detectives on Wednesday morning at his Queensland home. Source: AP
NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller said Lynette Dawson's family were relieved.
"We spoke to the family of Lynette Dawson this morning, who were certainly relieved to hear this result and from their perspective, they have asked for some patience in terms of their confidentiality in going forward," he said.
An undated photo taken from a Facebook page dedicated to Lynette Dawson, a 33-year-old mother of two from Bayview in Sydney's north, Source: AAP
Commissioner Fuller said fresh information from witnesses this week provided a breakthrough in the case.
"They were predominantly statements from witnesses that helped us to pieces of the puzzle is together," he said.
"No doubt it will be a voluminous briefs with an enormous amount of evidence and there are a number of witnesses that will be called," he said.
The family of Chris Dawson has released a statement, defending him.
“We are disappointed at the decision of the DPP as there is clear and uncontested evidence that Lyn Dawson was alive long after she left Chris and their daughters,” the statement said.
Detective Superintendent Scott Cook said Mr Dawson is not expected to be questioned by police today. He said depending on the court process, he could be bailed to a Sydney court in three or four weeks.
The case is the subject of an investigative podcast series The Teacher's Pet which has uncovered new evidence about the disappearance of Lyn Dawson from Sydney's northern beaches in January 1982.
An aerial shot of the home in Bayview, showing the police tent set up. Source: Ascent Digital
Commissioner Fuller said the investigation team have benefited from the work of the media.
"It's my understanding that there were two additional statements that were a by-product of the media and the work that the media has done."
Lynette Dawson's body was never found.
Chris Dawson maintains his innocence. Source: Supplied
Commissioner Fuller said police have not given up on finding her remains.
"We would like to have found the body of Lynette Dawson, not just for the evidence but for the family, and we certainly will not give up on the search," he said.
NSW Police and Forensic Services search the former home of missing woman Lynette Dawson, at Bayview on the northern beaches, in Sydney. Source: AAP
Ms Dawson was 33 when she went missing from the northern beaches in 1982, leaving behind two daughters.
Chris Dawson, has long been a suspect in the case but the former Newtown Jets rugby league player denies any involvement in her disappearance.
In September, investigators dug up the Bayview home for almost a week but said they found no human remains and no significant clues.
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