Chris Dawson moved into protection as guards fear for his safety as convicted murderer spends first night at Silverwater

Prison officers have moved Chris Dawson into protection as the recently convicted murderer spends his first night at Silverwater prison.

The former teacher was accused of murdering his former wife Lynette Dawson and disposing of her body in 1982 as he pursued an affair with his teenage student and babysitter.

The 74-year-old was found guilty by Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison SC on Tuesday on the grounds that he was satisfied Dawson had “resolved to kill his wife” on or about January 8 1982 before discarding the remains.

Prison officers at Silverwater performed a medical assessment and expressed concerns about Dawson’s safety due to the high-profile nature of the case and his relationship with a student.

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Corrective Services sources told The Daily Telegraph anonymously that Dawson had been moved into the Special Management and Protection Program over fears he could be “dead by Friday” and that he had been classed as a “suicide risk” after his assessment.

“There were repeated and specific suicide threats during the assessment process,” the source told the newspaper.

“There was also concern that he would be the target of other inmates due to the high-profile nature of the case and his well-documented relationship with a schoolgirl.

“Officers raised concerned that he would be dead by Friday if not placed in the specialist management and protection program where he can be monitored 24 hours a day.”

As part of the Special Management and Protection Program Dawson will stay in a cell with a single bed on his own to ensure his protection from other inmates due to the high-profile nature of the case.

Dawson was transferred from Surry Hills Police Centre to Silverwater’s Metropolitan Remand & Reception Centre just before midday where he would have had his navy blue suit that was worn in court confiscated and replaced with a green prison uniform.

He will be provided with a simple toiletries pack – consisting of basic hand soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a razor and sanitiser – for his daily use.

During his stay at the Silverwater MRRC he will be subject to a strict routine lifestyle in jail with only one hot meal served each day during dinner about 3pm.

Other rations will be provided, including milk, cereal, seven slices of bread, sachets of coffee and prison-issued tea bags either in the morning or at night before bed.

Justice Harrison handed down two significant findings on Tuesday before he delivered the guilty verdict.

He said he was satisfied Ms Dawson had died on or about January 8, 1982 and that she had not left her Northern Beaches Sydney home voluntarily.

The judge also said Dawson had lied when he claimed Ms Dawson had contacted him several times via telephone after January 8, 1982.

“The whole of the circumstantial evidence satisfies me that Lynette Dawson is dead, that she died on or about January 8 1982, and that she did not voluntarily abandon her home,” he told the Supreme Court packed with media and respective families.

“I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the phone call material and the sightings evidenced do not establish that Lynette Dawson was alive … I’m satisfied that none of the alleged sightings was a genuine sighting of Lynette Dawson.”

Justice Harrison added that there was “scant evidence” to suggest the then-33-year-old nurse had the financial means to fund her new life if she had decided to run away after learning of Dawson’s affair.

Dawson’s lawyer Greg Walsh confirmed the former rugby league player intended to appeal the decision and was continuing to assert his innocence.

“I can confirm that it’s probable that of course he will appeal against his conviction,” Mr Walsh told reporters outside the court after the verdict was handed down.

“Mr Dawson has always asserted and he still does his absolute innocence of the crime of which he’s been convicted and he will continue to assert his innocence and he’ll certainly appeal.”