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A Tennessee IT professional was convicted of murdering his wife during their honeymoon at an exclusive Fijian resort. Bradley Robert Dawson, 40, received the guilty verdict from the High Court in Lautoka for the brutal killing of his new bride, Christe Chen Dawson.

The tragedy unfolded at the luxurious Turtle Island Resort, where Christe Chen Dawson, 36, was discovered deceased in their $3,500-per-night bungalow. Her body, found on July 9, 2022, showed signs of severe trauma, particularly to her head, with injuries so extensive that cremation was necessary before returning her remains to her Memphis-based family.

The newlyweds, who had married just months earlier in February 2022, reportedly engaged in a heated dispute the night before the incident. Despite the evidence, Dawson’s legal representative, Iqbal Khan, initially expressed confidence in his client’s innocence, stating, “there is no way he can be convicted of murder” and “On the evidence that they have presented so far, there’s no proof of the charge of murder with intention to kill or premeditation. Nothing of that sort whatsoever. On the face of it, it looks like an accident.”

Following the murder, Dawson disappeared for a day, eventually being discovered on a remote island after kayaking a mile from the resort. His possession of his passport and personal items led Justice Riyaz Hamza to conclude he had intended to flee Fiji.

During the trial, Dawson maintained his innocence, claiming the death was accidental. However, Justice Hamza delivered a decisive verdict, stating, “For the aforesaid reasons I am of the opinion that the defense’s version cannot be believed and the same version is rejected. Having analyzed all the evidence in its totality, I am of the opinion that the prosecution witnesses were all truthful, credible and reliable in their testimony. From the totality of the evidence I am satisfied that the prosecution has disapproved the defense of provocation. Having considered all the evidence in its totality, I am of the opinion that the prosecution has proved the charge of murder against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.”

The victim, a University of Tennessee Health Science Center graduate, had been working as a Kroger pharmacist before her death. Dawson, who was suspended from his role at Youth Villages following the incident, awaits his sentencing scheduled for January 27, 2025.