Coroner Hears Kelly Wilkinson Was Turned Away by Police Days Before Murder
Days before she was murdered, Kelly Wilkinson sought help from police but was allegedly turned away and told to "cool off," a coroner has been told. The inquest into the mother-of-three's death on April 20, 2021, was abruptly adjourned on Thursday to investigate sensational new claims from the Wilkinson family lawyer.
New Evidence Emerges in Last-Minute Submission
In a last-minute submission, counsel assisting the family, Mitch Rawlings, said Queensland Police's assertion that April 12, 2021, was their last contact with Wilkinson may be incorrect. Rawlings stated he had been informed by the family that Wilkinson last visited a Gold Coast police station on April 16 but was turned away and told to give her husband a break.
Four days later, the 27-year-old was doused in petrol and burned alive by her estranged husband, Brian Earl Johnston, at her Gold Coast home. Rawlings told Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher that one of Kelly's sisters drove her to Southport police station, where she remained in the car while Kelly went inside with documents.
"She returned to the car and complained that the person at the front desk turned her away, saying words to the effect of 'just cool off. Give Brian a break,'" Rawlings said. The bombshell allegation led to an adjournment of proceedings to hear additional evidence, which Gallagher granted.
Missed Opportunities and Systemic Failures
The inquest on the Gold Coast, which probed events leading up to Wilkinson's death, heard evidence this week that police missed crucial opportunities to protect her. Johnston had been incorrectly released on bail nine days before the murder after being charged with four counts of sexually assaulting his wife.
Police also failed by incorrectly filing Wilkinson's complaint about Johnston allegedly breaching a protection order, making it much harder for other officers to find details about her case. Detective Inspector Paul Fletcher, the officer in charge of the Gold Coast Vulnerable Persons Group, conceded police had missed opportunities.
"Overall, it appears they followed procedures that were outlined for them to do, but there were areas they could improve on as well," he told Southport Coroners Court. Officers were first made aware of Wilkinson's complaints about domestic violence 23 days before her murder and later visited her home to organise for her to make a statement.
Family's Heartbreaking Impact Statements
Rawlings' last-minute claim came after Wilkinson's heartbroken family wept openly as they gave emotional victim impact statements on Thursday. Wilkinson's sister, Danielle Carroll, said her sister had so much life left to live.
"This was her only dream. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, and a mother," Carroll said. "She was home for her three children, a safe space; she loved them unconditionally." The children now live with Carroll and her family, but it can never be the life they would have shared with their mother.
Carroll added, "All that Kelly wanted from life was to love and be loved. There are no words for the way she suffered in her last moments. There will never be any words to pass on to her children to make them feel OK." She described the ripple effect of the tragedy as "immeasurable," with the family surviving minute by minute, hour by hour.
"Losing someone to such a horrific murder is a different beast; it is unforgiving. For every milestone and achievement of her children, I stand with them and celebrate, but it should be her," Carroll said.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Just after 3 a.m. on April 20, 2021, Johnston went to a petrol station and filled a 20-litre jerry can with fuel. Dressed in black clothes and a black face mask, Johnston then turned up at Wilkinson's home, breaching his temporary protection order.
He attacked his wife, stabbing her repeatedly before dousing her with petrol and burning her alive. Johnston pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life behind bars. The inquest, initially set to end on Thursday, has been adjourned to a later date following the latest allegation.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call triple-0. For advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence, call 1300 766 491.
