Memphis man guilty of killing wife during Fiji honeymoon
by: Melissa Moon
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A court in Fiji has convicted a Memphis man for the murder of his wife during their honeymoon in the island country more than two years ago, the victim’s family confirmed Thursday.
Christe Chen Dawson, a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, was found dead on July 9, 2022, in her hotel room at the Turtle Island Resort in Yasawa.
The Fiji Times reported Bradley Robert Dawson was arrested at Matacawalevu Village a day later with several items in his possession, including his passport and some personal belongings.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Riyaz Hamza said the fact that Dawson had his passport and personal belongings with him upon his arrest indicated he intended to flee after committing the offense, the paper wrote.
According to the Fiji Times, Justice Hamza was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Bradley Dawson and no one else had committed the offense.
“For the aforesaid reasons, I am of the opinion that the defense’s version cannot be believed, and the same version is rejected,” he said. “Having analyzed 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.”
Chen Dawson was working as a pharmacist at Kroger at the time of her death. Family members decided to have her cremated in the South Pacific nation because her body was badly damaged, a lawyer representing the family said.
Dawson is scheduled to be sentenced in Fiji on January 27.
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