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A homicide investigation has been launched months after a crash killed four people in NSW's Northern Rivers region.

Emergency responders were called to Black Chapel Road in Wardell following reports of a crash on Saturday, February 21, just after 5.45 am.

A blue Mazda BT Ute had left the road and crashed, killing 36-year-old driver Mark Dodds and three passengers, 33-year-old Sophie-Lee Fullagar, 50-year-old Benjamin Watego, and 42-year-old James Doherty.

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Today, following extensive inquiries, NSW Police announced the crash investigation had turned into a homicide case, with a second vehicle believed to have chased the Mazda before it crashed.

Richmond Police District Commander Superintendent Scott Tanner said police were looking for an early 2000s model silver Toyota Corolla sedan bearing stolen number plates.

"We believe the occupants of that vehicle would have information crucial to this investigation, and it is essential that they come forward and speak with detectives," Tanner said.

"I appeal for those in that car to contact Lismore Police or Crime Stoppers, and callers can remain anonymous if they wish.

"My detectives are working to provide answers for the grieving families of these people, and we know there will be people in our community that have information which will assist investigators."

Sophie-Lee Fullagar's mother said her daughter "deserved justice."

"My daughter was an innocent victim in this, she deserves justice, they all deserve justice…people need to come forward to the police," she said.

"It would give us some kind of closure, we need closure, we deserve that…we need answers."

Anyone able to identify the driver of the Toyota Corolla, and anyone in possession of dashcam footage from the area at the time of the crash, are urged to contact Lismore Detectives on 02 6626 0599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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A jury took less than three hours to find him guilty of murdering 3-month-old Amaziah.

A court has heard that a pilot admitted he was involved in the accidental deaths of Russell Hill and Carol Clay after an argument over hunting before making "terrible choices" by hiding their bodies.

Greg Lynn, 57, has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter over the couple's deaths while camping in Victoria's Alpine region on March 20, 2020.

However, his defence barrister told the jury of 15 on Tuesday he admitted to police that he was accidentally involved in their deaths.

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"I'm innocent of murder, I haven't behaved well, I've made some poor decisions, but murder, as I understand it, I'm innocent of," Dermot Dann KC said, citing what Lynn told detectives in his interview.

He said Lynn – who had brought two guns with him – went hunting and when he got back to the campsite he became aware of a drone flying above that was operated by Hill.

About dinner time, Lynn went over to Hill's campsite and asked him about the drone.

Hill voiced his issues with Lynn about deer hunting near the camping grounds and threatened to show police footage of Lynn, Dann alleged.

"Mr Lynn told him he was speaking nonsense," he said.

He told the court Lynn went back to his campsite and started playing loud music from his car stereo to annoy Hill.

Lynn claims he heard some noises around his car and then saw Mr Hill walking away.

Believing he had his gun he followed Hill and asked him for it back.

"Mr Hill told him to 'f— off'," Dann said to the jury.

"Mr Lynn, you'll hear and see, explains to police that Mr Hill lost his temper, that loud music had obviously disturbed Mr Hill late at night."

Dann said Lynn went to get his gun back from Hill, when the 74-year-old fired it into the air.

Lynn said he took cover at the back of Hill's car and tried again to get his gun back, with a struggle taking place.

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The accused double murderer claimed in a "chaotic scene" Hill discharged the gun and a bullet went through the car mirror.

"That same shot, tragically, shot Mrs Clay in the head," Dann said.

The court heard that Hill ran over to Clay, Lynn retrieved his gun and then Hill ran towards Lynn, with a knife, screaming "she's dead".

In a struggle over the knife, as Lynn tried to defend himself the knife went into Hill's chest, Dann alleged.

He said Lynn then made "series of terrible choices" because he feared he would be blamed for the deaths.

"He tried to make this disaster somehow go away," Dann said.

"He embarked on a series of actions which, he recognised in that record of interview, only made his whole situation so much worse."

He said Lynn packed up the campsite and put the bodies in his trailer before setting fire to the couple's site.

He then allegedly removed the knife Hill used, took the drone and the couple's phones before driving into the night with their bodies.

Lynn went to the Union Spur Track, near Dargo, and buried the couple before driving home to Melbourne, Mr Dann said.

He admitted in the police interview that he returned to the site when COVID-19 lockdown ended, in May 2020, and then again November when he burned their remains.

Chris Dawson's claims of innocence after being convicted of murdering his wife and disposing of her body are not even remotely possible, a court has been told.

The 75-year-old is trying to overturn an August 2022 NSW Supreme Court murder verdict by Justice Ian Harrison, who found the ex-teacher killed his wife Lynette and disposed of her body in January 1982.

The judge found Dawson committed murder because he was so infatuated with pursuing a teenager who worked as his babysitter that he had to get rid of his wife.

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On Tuesday, crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield said the judge had made the correct decision.

"There is not a significant possibility that an innocent person has been convicted in this case," he told the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.

Dawson's claims that his 33-year-old wife abandoned the marital home and her two children because of his pursuit of a teenage high-school student should be rejected, Hatfield said.

Ms Dawson had not spoken to or been seen by anyone since January 8, 1982 and had idolised her husband and adored her children, a three-judge panel heard.

She had an "unwavering commitment" to her marriage despite it crumbling around her and had no reason to cut contact with her family and friends, Hatfield added.

On the other hand, Dawson had shown he wanted his relationship with the girl, who can legally only be identified as JC, to be permanent.

His steps included moving her into his home on Sydney's northern beaches and leaving for Queensland with her to start a new life together.

A desperate Dawson who was obsessed with the girl had reason and motive to kill his wife, Mr Hatfield said.

Dawson watched the hearing by video-link from Clarence Correctional Centre, near Grafton.

Earlier on Tuesday, his barrister Belinda Rigg SC challenged Justice Harrison's verdict by saying her client had shown he was already willing to lose the relationship with his wife to be with the teenage student.

"He was no doubt capable of continuing that relationship, if JC was willing to, regardless of his wife," Rigg said.

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She argued the teen had said she did not want to continue the relationship with Dawson after the failed Queensland trip.

"The impediment to the relationship continuing was JC, not his wife," Rigg said.

"Lynette Dawson had never been an impediment so far as JC was concerned."

On the other hand, there was a reasonable possibility Ms Dawson had left the home to take some time for herself because of the mental anguish caused by her husband's pursuit of his student, the barrister argued.

Dawson claims he dropped his wife off at a train station and received a phone call from her the following day in which she said she needed some time alone to think things through.

Rigg said this was still a possibility and Justice Harrison could not find Ms Dawson was dead on January 9 and that her client had committed murder beyond reasonable doubt.

She told the three-judge panel that her client suffered a significant disadvantage in having to defend 40-year-old allegations and his prior good character needed to be taken into account.

But Justice Christine Adamson questioned whether his character should be given much weight considering how he conducted himself with the teenager while working as a teacher with students under his authority.

Rigg said the court could consider Dawson's non-violent and non-aggressive nature.

Justice Harrison sentenced the ex-Newtown Jets rugby league player to a maximum of 24 years in prison for his wife's murder.

Dawson's full jail stint will expire in August 2046 and he will be able to apply for parole in August 2041.

If his appeal succeeds, the court could either acquit him of murder or order a retrial.

The hearing continues.