Chris Dawson committed to stand trial over former wife Lynette's murder

Former footballer Chris Dawson has been committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court, on a charge of murdering his wife Lynette in the 1980s. 

Today, Mr Dawson's brother in law Ross Hutcheon told a committal hearing at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court he saw Lynette Dawson at a bus stop on Victoria Road at Gladesville after she had been reported missing. 

Mr Hutcheon appeared from Perth via audio visual link, and is the fourth witness to front the hearing claiming to have seen Mrs Dawson.

He told the court he knew she had been reported missing at the time, believing the sighting was between three and six months after she "disappeared".

Mr Hutcheon said he turned his vehicle around to go back and check but "by the time I got back, she'd gone. I assume she'd caught a bus".

Mr Hutcheon said he knew Lynette Dawson well because she'd lived with he and his wife for three to four months. 

He told the court he saw her near Gladesville Hospital, in broad daylight. 

"Lyn was a nurse, I put the two together."

"Yes, that's definitely Lyn Dawson." 

Mr Dawson's solicitor Greg Walsh said his client will plead not guilty.

"I don't think any accused person looks forward to this process - it's a very stressful one," Mr Walsh told reporters outside court.

"He lives interstate and no doubt will find it a very difficult process. Having faced this situation for some time I think he's looking forward to clearing his name."

The trial is expected to begin later this year.