MELBOURNE, Australia — A man from Memphis, Tennessee, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife during their honeymoon in Fiji in 2022, a court official announced on Friday.
Bradley Robert Dawson, 40, will have to serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars before he may be eligible for parole, according to the registry of the Fiji High Court in Lautoka.
Dawson was found guilty in December of killing his wife, Christe Chen, who was 36 at the time. The incident occurred at the luxurious Turtle Island resort in the Yasawa archipelago just two days after the couple arrived in the South Pacific. Following the crime, Dawson attempted to escape by kayak to a nearby island.
Justice Riyaz Hamza issued the sentence on Wednesday, stating that Dawson had demonstrated a blatant disregard for Chen’s right to life and her personal freedom. Hamza condemned Dawson’s actions after the fact, noting, “Your behavior following the incident was appalling. Having inflicted severe and life-threatening injuries on the deceased, you fled the scene, leaving her alone and defenseless.”
Chen’s body was found in their resort room by staff members, who discovered multiple blunt force injuries to her head. This discovery came after guests reported hearing an argument between the couple and noticing their absence from breakfast and lunch the following day.
Although Dawson maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty, the trial lasted eight days. His defense attorney, Anil Prasad, argued that the prosecution had not presented enough evidence for a conviction, highlighting that many of the couple’s belongings were still at the resort, implying no intent to flee. Additionally, he pointed out that Dawson bore no injuries indicative of a physical confrontation with his wife.
Despite these claims, the judge expressed confidence beyond reasonable doubt that Dawson was the perpetrator of the crime, with no one else involved.
According to Fijian law, inmates can seek parole after serving the minimum term established by the court, although the current parole board lacks staff, leading to criticisms regarding growing prison overcrowding issues.
David Naylor, an expert in Pacific law from the Australian National University who has taught in Fiji, explained that Dawson could apply to the national Mercy Commission for a pardon from the Fijian president after serving his 18-year minimum sentence. Furthermore, he could request a reduction in his life sentence to a fixed term, establishing a potential release date.
Dawson was employed in the information technology department at Youth Villages, a nonprofit organization in Memphis focused on child welfare and support. Public records indicate that there were no prior criminal charges against him in Shelby County, which includes Memphis.
The Turtle Island resort, where the couple spent their honeymoon, is a secluded 500-acre island that accommodates only 14 couples at any given time. The Yasawa group consists of approximately 20 volcanic islands situated in western Fiji, a nation with a population of about 930,000.
