A man has been found guilty of murdering his newlywed wife while on their dream honeymoon at a Fiji resort. On Thursday, December 12, Bradley Robert Dawson, 38 was found guilty in court.
Dawson, from Memphis, had been facing charges of murder in the country in relation to the death of his wife 36-year-old Christe Chen Dawson, a pharmacist at a Kroger supermarket in Memphis, Tennessee. Authorities in Fiji say Christe was found dead at the exclusive Turtle Island Resort on July 9, 2022. Her death was ruled to be the result of multiple blunt force injuries to the head, according to authorities, reports The Mirror US.
Prosecutors in the High Court of Lautoka say that Bradley allegedly killed his wife during a drunken argument before he reportedly fled to a neighboring island on a kayak following the killing, authorities say. He was eventually arrested on murder charges and authorities at the time of his arrest found personal items and his passport on his person, indicating to Fijian Court Justice Riyaz Hamza that Dawson had planned to flee the country.
Chen had been killed only two days after the couple had checked into the resort for their honeymoon, which had reportedly been paid for by Chen’s parents, who were regulars at the resort. It was reported by the Daily Mail that the argument between the couple was sparked after Chen caught her husband “inappropriately dancing” with another woman.
At the hearing on Thursday Justice Riyaz Hamza said: “For the aforesaid reasons, I am of the opinion that the defense’s version cannot be believed, and the same version is rejected. Having analysed all the evidence in its totality, I am of the opinion that the prosecution witnesses were all truthful, credible, and reliable in their testimony. From the totality of the evidence, I am satisfied that the prosecution has disapproved of the defense of provocation.
“Having considered all the evidence in its totality, I am of the opinion that the prosecution has proved the charge of murder against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.”
Dawson had maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings claiming his wife’s death to be an accident. Dawson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 27, 2025.
