A man from Memphis, Tennessee, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife during their honeymoon in Fiji in 2022. Bradley Robert Dawson, 40, will have to serve a minimum of 18 years before being eligible for release, according to a Fiji High Court registry official in Lautoka.
Dawson was convicted of murdering his wife, Christe Chen, 36, at the Turtle Island resort in the Yasawa archipelago just two days after their arrival in Fiji. Following the incident, Dawson fled to a nearby island by kayak.
Justice Riyaz Hamza, who presided over the case, criticized Dawson for his actions, stating that he had shown a blatant disregard for his wife's life and personal liberty. Hamza highlighted Dawson's appalling conduct after the crime, where he left his injured wife alone and helpless at the scene.
Chen's body was discovered by resort staff with multiple blunt trauma wounds to her head after the couple failed to appear for meals following an argument.
Despite pleading not guilty, Dawson was found guilty after an eight-day trial. His lawyer argued that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence and failed to consider certain aspects of the case, such as the couple's personal belongings remaining at the resort and Dawson's lack of physical injuries indicating a struggle.
The judge, however, was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Dawson was the perpetrator of the crime.
Under Fijian law, prisoners can apply for parole after serving a court-determined minimum term. However, the current lack of staff on the parole board has led to concerns about prison overcrowding.
Following 18 years in prison, Dawson may seek release through the national Mercy Commission or apply to have his life sentence reduced to a fixed term.
Dawson, who worked in the information technology department at Youth Villages, a nonprofit organization in Memphis, had no prior criminal record in Shelby County.
The Turtle Island resort, where the tragic incident occurred, is an exclusive 500-acre island that caters to a limited number of couples at a time. The Yasawa archipelago, where the resort is located, consists of about 20 volcanic islands in the western region of Fiji.
