The Teacher's Trial

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About the show

Latest episodes

• From The Front: The first kiss Chris Dawson says proves his innocence

  March 31, 2025 · 14 min

  In the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Christopher Michael Dawson says he’s not guilty of unlawful carnal knowledge of a schoolgirl.   The Front is The Australian's daily news podcast. You can find out more about it here. You can read about…

• The Teacher's Accuser Episode 7: Between The Lines

  September 29, 2023 · 1 hr 25 min

  Three books on this remarkable story are published: Hedley Thomas’ book The Teacher’s Pet, Shanelle Dawson’s memoir My Mother’s Eyes, and lawyer Rebecca Hazel’s The Schoolgirl, Her Teacher, and His Wife.  To read The Australian's ongoing…

• The Teacher’s Accuser Episode 6: Ducking And Weaving

  September 22, 2023 · 1 hr 23 min

  Hedley and the team are back to dissect Judge Sarah Huggett’s three-year sentence for Chris Dawson’s unlawful carnal knowledge of a schoolgirl.  But in another court, a new drama plays out as education authorities try to dodge…

• From The Front: Three more years for Chris Dawson

  September 15, 2023 · 18 min

  Grey, shrunken and hiding his face, Chris Dawson is sentenced for unlawful carnal knowledge of a schoolgirl. Hedley Thomas joins us. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read about this story and more on The Australian's website…

• The Teacher's Accuser Episode 5: Truth

  June 30, 2023 · 60 min

  "The accused committed an act of carnal knowledge while she was 16 years of age in his and his pupil.” That was the judgement of Judge Sarah Huggett, who found Christopher Michael Dawson guilty of carnal knowledge on Wednesday, June 28…

• From The Front: Chris Dawson found guilty of carnal knowledge

  June 28, 2023 · 3 min

  Christopher Michael Dawson has been found guilty of carnal knowledge of a complainant who was his student at Cromer High School in 1980. The Front is The Australian's daily news podcast. You can find it wherever you got this podcast.  See…

• The Teacher's Accuser Episode 4: Closing Arguments

  June 16, 2023 · 1 hr 27 min

  The carnal knowledge trial of Christopher Michael Dawson has officially come to a close. Just as he did in his murder trial, Dawson exercised his right to silence: he did not give evidence in his own defence. In this episode, Hedley…

• The Teacher's Accuser Episode 3: Cross-Examination

  June 9, 2023 · 1 hr 5 min

  “I want it to end”: the emotional plea from Chris Dawson’s accuser, AB, during a sometimes fiery courtroom battle with public defender Claire Wasley. At one point, AB dismissed Wasley’s suggestions as “garbage” In this episode, Hedley…