The disappearance of Lynette Dawson in 1982 was the subject of podcast The Teacher’s Pet

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The former husband of Sydney woman Lynette Dawson has formally pleaded not guilty to her murder.

Chris Dawson, a former rugby league player and teacher, was charged in December over the disappearance of his then wife, Lynette, on Sydney’s northern beaches in 1982.

Teacher's Pet: can 28m podcast downloads change the course of a murder case? Read more

His lawyer Greg Walsh formally entered a not guilty plea at Downing Centre local court on Thursday.

The matter is due back before the same court on 8 August.

Lynette Dawson’s disappearance was the subject of the popular investigative podcast series The Teacher’s Pet, published by the Australian.

The podcast has been downloaded more than 28 million times globally since its release and its lead reporter, Hedley Thomas, received Australia’s highest journalism accolade, the gold Walkley, in November.