Pilot Husband Charged with Murder, Bail Sparks Outrage

Brisbane Air Force Pilot Charged with Wife's Murder A 47-year-old Air Force pilot, Robert John Crawford, has been charged with the murder of his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford, and interfering with her corpse. The incident occurred on July 30th, 2024, at their home in Upper Lockyer, west of Brisbane. Police allege Crawford strangled his wife and then staged her death to appear as a lawnmower accident. A friend of the victim's children, Suzanne Duffy, expressed outrage at Crawford's bail, stating, "To say the family are angry is an understatement." The prosecution presented forensic evidence supporting strangulation as the cause of death and described Crawford as a "master manipulator" with a history of abuse. The couple's three adult children are now estranged from Crawford and have also accused him of emotional abuse. The case highlights the tragic consequences of domestic violence and underscores the importance of support systems for victims.