Husband Convicted of Killing Wife on Fiji Honeymoon

A Memphis, Tennessee man was convicted by a Fijian judge on Monday of murdering his wife during their 2022 honeymoon, according to the prosecutor's office.

Bradley Robert Dawson, 40, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Christe Chen, 36, at the luxury Turtle Island resort in Fiji's Yasawa archipelago. The crime occurred just two days into their honeymoon in 2022.

Dawson fled the resort by kayak to a nearby island after the killing. Resort staff discovered Chen in the couple's room with multiple blunt force trauma wounds to her head after the couple was overheard arguing and failed to appear for breakfast or lunch the following day.

Christe Chen sits on grass in this undated image. In 2022, a lawyer representing Chen’s parents revealed that her injuries were so severe that her body could not be embalmed for transport back to the... Facebook

What Were the Circumstances of Dawson's Trial?

Justice Riyaz Hamza found Dawson guilty of murder in Fiji's Lautoka High Court last Thursday following a weeklong trial, according to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Dawson had defended the charge.

According to the Fiji Times, Hamza noted that Dawson was carrying his passport and personal belongings at the time of his arrest, suggesting an intent to flee. The judge stated he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Dawson, and no one else, had committed the murder.

Dawson, remains in custody in Fiji and faces a mandatory life sentence when he is formally sentenced in January. Under Fijian law, the presiding judge can establish a minimum term to be served before a pardon may be considered.

An undated image of Bradley Robert Dawson and his wife, Christe Chen. Justice Hamza said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Dawson and no one else had killed Chen. Instagram

Dawson's attorney has not yet responded to requests for comment.

In 2022, a lawyer representing Chen's parents revealed that her injuries were so severe that her body could not be embalmed for transport back to the United States. As a result, her remains were cremated in Fiji.

Who Was Christe Chen?

Chen had previously worked as a pastry chef before returning to school to become a pharmacist. At the time of her death, she was employed as a pharmacist at a Kroger supermarket in Memphis.

The family's lawyer, Ronald Gordon, previously stated that Chen and Dawson were heard arguing over dinner the night before the murder. Gordon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

An image of a beach with palm trees on the Yasawa archipelago, Fiji. The Turtle Island resort, where Dawson and Chen stayed, is a secluded and exclusive 500-acre retreat, hosting only 14 couples at a... Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

What Is Bradley Dawson's History?

Dawson was employed in the information technology department at Youth Villages, a Memphis-based nonprofit focused on child welfare and support, the organization confirmed following his arrest.

An online records search indicated Dawson had no prior criminal arrests in Shelby County, which includes Memphis.

The Turtle Island resort, where Dawson and Chen stayed, is a secluded and exclusive 500-acre retreat, hosting only 14 couples at a time.

Located in the Yasawa archipelago, a chain of about 20 volcanic islands in western Fiji, the resort is part of the idyllic South Pacific nation, home to approximately 930,000 people.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press