A coroner investigating Hannah Clarke’s and her children’s deaths recognized the mother’s “astounding” bravery, saying it was unlikely anyone could have stopped Rowan Baxter’s murderous plans.
Coroner Jane Bentley’s voice broke as she finished handing her findings in a Southport court on Wednesday following a nine-day hearing in March.
Bentley said Baxter was not mentally ill but a “master of manipulation”.
“I find it unlikely that any further actions taken by police officers, service providers, friends, or family members could have stopped Baxter from ultimately executing his murderous plans,” she added.
Clarke was leaving her parents’ home in Brisbane’s Camp Hill suburb to take Aaliyah, six; Laianah, four; and Trey, three, to school when estranged husband Baxter jumped into her vehicle on 19 February 2020.
The 42-year-old splashed fuel inside the car and set it alight before stabbing himself with a knife, dying nearby.
The children’s bodies were found in the vehicle, while Clarke, 31, died the same day in the hospital.
Bentley said police training required “immediate attention” to prevent similar deaths from occurring.
Her recommendations included a five-day face-to-face training program for specialist domestic violence police officers “as a matter of urgency”, a mandatory face-to-face domestic violence module for all officers, and state government funding provided urgently for men’s behavior change programs in prisons and communities.
She also called for a multi-disciplinary specialist domestic violence police station to be trialed for a year.
The station should include specialist officers, including a detective, a support worker, a lawyer to advise police and victims, and representatives from the departments of child safety, housing, and health.
The inquest was shown CCTV footage of Baxter buying zip ties, cleaning fluid, and fuel can days before the killings.
He also bought three Kinder Surprise chocolates – presumably for his children – when he bought fuel.
Counsel assisting the coroner Jacoba Brasch QC told the hearing Baxter may have initially intended to kidnap Clarke, burn her, then give his children chocolates, and it “would all be happy families”.
But he turned to “plan B” once the 31-year-old defied him by asking a bystander for help when Baxter ambushed her, she said.
Clarke’s parents, Sue and Lloyd Clarke, said at the end of the “unthinkably confronting” hearing they hoped the inquest would help others avoid the same fate.
The coroner’s court was told there were systematic failings in police communication and training.
But Lloyd Clarke said nothing would have stopped Baxter.
“He was just one of those people … so callous and used everyone as a pawn in his monstrous ways,” he said outside court after the hearing.
Sue Clarke added: “Now and then, I think a true monster is born, and you can’t stop them.”
Queensland attorney-general Shannon Fentiman said earlier on Wednesday she hoped the legacy of the inquest would be “a much stronger system”.
“It is incredibly distressing … when we hear about these horrific murders, and we have to do more to prevent [them from] happening,” she told 4BC radio on Wednesday.
“I often say we must start responding to the red flags before more blue police tape surrounds the family home.”
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14, and the national family violence counseling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255, and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
