Man Learns Fate After Killing Newlywed Wife on Honeymoon, Then Fleeing Luxury Fiji Resort in Kayak

Mar. 15, 2025

A Tennessee man has been sentenced to life in prison forkilling his wife on their Fiji honeymoon, according to multiple reports.

On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Bradley Dawson appeared at the High Court in Lautoka, where he was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in prison before he can be considered for release following the July 9, 2022, murder of his wife Christe Chen, local outlets theFiji Timesand theFiji Broadcasting Corporation(FBC) reported.

Justice Riyaz Hamza told Dawson at the sentencing, “Your conduct after the incident was appalling," per theFiji Times.

“Having inflicted serious and life-threatening injuries to the deceased you fled the scene of the crime, leaving the deceased alone and helpless in your [room]. Her body was discovered several hours later,” Hamza added, according to the outlet.

Christe Chen.Christe Dawson Facebook

Bradley Dawson and Christe Chen.Christe Dawson/Instagram

During the trial in December, Hamza said the fact that Dawson was apprehended at Matacawalevu Village with his passport and personal belongings the next day indicated that he was planning to flee the country after the crime, theFiji Timesreported.

In November, defense lawyer Anil Prasad, representing Dawson, claimed prosecutors had failed to provide enough evidence to convict the suspect, perFBC.

Bradley Robert Dawson (center).Salote Qalubau/The Fiji Times via AP

Salote Qalubau/The Fiji Times via AP

However, Justice Hamza rejected the defense at trial, saying prosecutors had “proved the charge of murder against the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” according to theFiji Times.

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Chen, a pharmacist, and Dawson, a nonprofit IT employee, got married three months after they met.

“It was a shock,” Chen’s friend, Morrice Aperey,told PEOPLEin November 2022, adding, “It happened so quickly.” The resort where the killing took place was the location of the 1980 filmTheBlueLagoon, starringBrooke Shields.

PEOPLE has contacted the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Fiji High Court registry office for additional information on Dawson’s sentencing, but didn’t immediately hear back.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com