Man refused bail over murder of Betty Dixon in Australia

A man accused of murdering Northern Irish woman Betty Dixon in Australia 33 years ago has told a court that another man, since deceased, was the killer.

Rodney Lawrence (64) was charged last week with the murder of Ms Dixon in 1982.

Mr Lawrence was refused bail in Newcastle local court on Tuesday.

He claimed in court that another man, who has since died, murdered Ms Dixon in her home, but he (Mr Lawrence) tied up the body.

However, the prosecutor said forensic evidence did not support this claim and that evidence appears to show Ms Dixon was murdered in her car.

Mr Lawrence’s bail application cited his poor health, the conditions of where he was being held, how long ago the crime happened and that he had no criminal history.

As bail was refused, Mr Lawrence shouted “I’m not going to survive”.

The body of Elizabeth Dixon, known as Betty, was found in a car at Ashtonfield, a suburb of Maitland, on April 6th, 1982, by a passing jogger.

An autopsy found the 31-year-old, originally from Holywood, Co Down, had been stabbed 27 times.

The matter will return to court in January.