Everson SC: How many days do you say that you were on the Gold Coast that period of time?
Silkman: It was only three or four days, I think, at the time, and left on the Friday and come back on the Monday, or come back on the Sunday, or, you know. It was three or four days. That was all it was, that I can recall.
The picture above is a screenshot of the evidence given today in the Teachers Pet murder trial by the Crown witness Robert Silkman, the fellow whose testimony the prosecution rely upon to prove that the accused Chris Dawson had long held malicious intent toward his wife.
Silkman says that he and Chris Dawson were on an end of season footy trip to the Gold Coast, and that on the way home on the plane Silkman approached him and asked him if he knew anyone who could get rid of his wife, permanently.
Everson SC – What, if any, interaction did you have with either Chris or Paul Dawson during that return flight to Sydney from the Gold Coast?
Silkman – Sitting there, and it was Chris that come along and kneeled down to my level of where I was sitting and asked me did I know anyone that could get rid of his wife.
Everson SC – What was your response to that question?
Silkman – Well, I was taken back. I said, “What do you mean?” I said “For good?” And he said, “Yeah”. And I said, “Oh look, I’ll talk to you when I get back to Sydney”. And that was the end of the conversation.
It would be damning evidence, if it were true.
There are many problems with Silkman’s evidence, but there is one above all.
Silkman ties the moment in time by reference to having watched the Thrilla in Manila – the world famous 3rd fight between Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier – live in a bar at Surfers Paradise, which appears to have been what was then called the Birdwatchers Bar, but is now known as the Surfers Paradise Beer Garden.
Go back to the transcript at the top.
Robert Silkman is absolutely certain that he and other players from the team arrived at the Gold Coast on a Friday, and left on the following Sunday or Monday.
Everson SC: So when you were on that trip and stayed at the Tiki Village you’ve told us it was, as I understand it, Cavill Avenue towards the river?
Silkman: Yeah, yeah. The Tiki Village is down ‑ it’s the main street that goes from the river right up to the beach. And I’m pretty sure it’s called Cavill.
Everson SC: Do you know that the beer garden, is that where you saw the game that you say Mohammad, the fight, Mohammad Ali and Joe Frazier fight?
Silkman: That’s correct.
Everson SC: And that was a big beer garden in the Cavill Avenue area just near the Tiki Village.
Silkman: Yeah, in the main street. In the same street that went all the way from the beach to the river, which I’m pretty sure it’s called Cavill.
Here is the problem.
The Thrilla in Manila was fought on the 1st of October 1975.
It was a Wednesday.
Robert Silkman is lying.
So are the coppers who fed him the line to place him there in time.
It helps to know your boxing doesn’t it?
And to have the ability to look at a calendar.
Oh dear.
This is a problem, a real problem indeed.
I guess there is more than one Gorilla in Manila.
And in Sydney too.