Air force pilot remanded after wife found dead near lawnmower in Brisbane

Frances Crawford's body was found at the bottom of a retaining wall, lying next to a ride-on lawnmower.

A man accused of murdering his wife moved her body before she was found dead near a ride-on lawnmower, police allege.

Air force pilot Robert John Crawford, 46, was not required to appear in person at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Friday for a brief mention of his charges before he was remanded in custody.

He is charged with murder and interfering with a corpse after his wife Frances Elizabeth Crawford was found dead at an Upper Lockyer property, west of Brisbane, in the early hours of July 30.

Queensland police arresting Robert Crawford for the suspected murder of his wife, Frances. Photo / Queensland Police

The prominent Toowoomba psychologist, 49, was discovered near the lawnmower at the bottom of a retaining wall.

In court documents filed for Friday’s court mention, police allege Crawford’s body was moved before that time.

Emergency services had been called to a report of an incident involving a ride-on lawnmower.

Police had previously said Crawford called triple zero and that he was the last person to see his wife alive, having allegedly been at the property on the night she died.

Crawford’s solicitor Andrew McGinness sought a two-week adjournment for the case to be mentioned again on October 25.

Acting magistrate Sue Ganasan granted the application and ordered that Crawford be held in custody.

Under Queensland law, anyone charged with murder must apply for bail in the Supreme Court.

McGinness did not comment as he left court.

The ride-on lawn mower connected to the investigation. Photo / Queensland Police

In a public appeal last week, homicide detectives asked people who had been in contact with Crawford to come forward with any relevant information.

Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said yesterday that the arrest was the result of the bravery of people who had come forward, along with detectives’ tireless efforts.

Frances Crawford’s family paid tribute to her late yesterday, saying they would rally around her children, whom they described as “wonderful young adults who will continue Frances’ legacy”.