Sydney's criminal underbelly has been drawn into Chris Dawson's murder trial as a former Newtown Jets player claimed he was once asked to help "get rid of" Lynette Dawson.

Today's witness was Robert Silkman, a convicted criminal who has mixed with Sydney's underworld including former football teammate and drug trafficker Paul Hayward and Hayward's brother-in-law, gangster and murderer Neddy Smith.

In October 1975, the Newtown Jets – the football team Chris and Paul Dawson played for – travelled to the Gold Coast for an end-of-season trip where they watched the Thrilla in Manila boxing bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

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On the plane ride home to Sydney, Silkman claimed to have received a bizarre request from Dawson.

"Sitting there and Chris had come along and kneeled down and asked me did I know anyone that could get rid of his wife," Silkman told the court.

"I was taken aback.

"I said, 'What do you mean?' I said, 'For good?' And he said, 'Yeah'. I said, 'Look, I'll talk to you when I get back to Sydney' and that was the end of the conversation."

Silkman said he turned to another friend in shock and said: "You wouldn't believe what Chris just said to me.

"And he said, 'What?' And I was laughing and said, 'Oh, he wanted to know if I could use someone to get rid of his wife.'

"I think Ray's reaction was 'what' and I said 'Yeah, he's f—— mad.'"

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Lynette vanished just over six years later but the hitman allegation wasn't passed on to police until 2018 after the Teacher's Pet podcast had gone global and weeks before Dawson was charged with murder.

Silkman was grilled about his criminal record, including theft and burning down a friend's business.

At one point he refused to answer questions until he was granted immunity and after that happened, he admitted to giving false evidence in the past to avoid going to jail.

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He denied he was after the $200,000 reward for information that would solve Lynette's disappearance.

Silkman told the judge if he ever were to receive the money, he'd donate it to fight violence against women.

The trial continues.

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The world is at its least harmonious in 15 years, while Australia has plummeted down the rankings of a major global peace survey.

The Institute for Economics and Peace has released its 16th annual Global Peace Index, analysing the state of unrest and war around the world.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and global uncertainty around COVID-19, prompted to deteriorating indicators of peace around the world, though there were some promising signs.

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The GPI recorded that militarisation improved globally, despite commitments from numerous countries – including Australia – to increase military spending.

Terrorism also significantly fell, with 86 countries noting an improvement.

The US reached its lowest level of peacefulness since 2008, due largely to increased internal conflict.

Australia experienced a significant fall down the rankings, dropping nine places to 27, of 163 nations surveyed.

The GPI noted Australia had recorded a significant deterioration in relations with neighbouring countries – perhaps a knock-on effect of Canberra's ongoing frosty relations with Beijing.

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Iceland took out the top spot for "most peaceful" country, as it has since 2008.

New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark and Austria joined it in the top five.

For the fifth consecutive year, Afghanistan is the least peaceful country, followed by Yemen, Syria, Russia and South Sudan.

The US dropped one spot to 129th.

Of the 23 indicators in the GPI, the largest deteriorations were recorded in neighbouring country relations, intensity of internal conflict, refugees and displaced persons, political terror, and political instability.

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"Last year we warned about the economic fallout from COVID-19. We are now experiencing supply chain shortages, rising inflation, and food insecurity that have been compounded by the tragic events in Ukraine," IEP founder Steve Killelea said.

"The political and economic consequences of this will reverberate for years to come.

"When combined with the record poor scores for neighbouring relations, political insecurity and intensity of internal conflict, governments, organisations, and leaders must harness the power of peace."

Read the full report here.

A man has been fatally stabbed at a detention centre in Western Australia.

A 32-year-old man was found with serious injuries at Yongah Hill detention centre around 11.45pm yesterday.

He was taken to Northam Hospital, where he later died.

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A fire was also put out at the scene.

The Refugee Action Coalition reported the victim was a Turkish man who was stabbed during an altercation with another detainee.

It's understood the man had been held at the detention centre for around three years but had recently signed an agreement to return to Turkey.

Two men have been taken into police custody to help with inquiries.

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Homicide detectives are investigating the incident.

The Refugee Action Coalition said it's the second stabbing incident at the detention centre in two days.

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