Hardly anything would have prevented Hannah Clarke’s former abuser from killing her and her children in the final act of harm, a coroner has found.
WARNING: distressing content
A coroner has recommended drastic changes in training and support on domestic violence following the deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children at the hands of her murderous ex-husband.
State Assistant Forensic Officer Jane Bentley was thrilled when she presented her long-awaited findings on the young family’s death, detailing how their lives were exhausted in her ex’s “final act of cowardice.” of the incendiary attack.
Mrs. Clarke and her children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, were killed after her ex-husband Rowan Baxter ambushed the young family on their way to school on Feb. 19. of 2020.
Baxter emptied the family car with gasoline and turned it on before turning it on while horrified neighbors watched.
The shocking crime highlighted Australia’s domestic violence crisis and caused an outpouring of pain across the country.
In her findings, released Wednesday, Ms. Bentley found that Ms. Clarke died from a multiple organ failure due to the fire inflicted by Baxter.
She said Mrs. Clarke’s children died at 8:25 a.m. on Feb. 19 from the effects of the fire that started Baxter, while Baxter died from a self-inflicted stab wound.
“The children died almost immediately from inhaling smoke and burns,” Ms Bentley said.
“Hannah had received full-thickness burns and no survivors.”
Bentley said that despite the injuries, Clarke showed “amazing courage” and was able to describe to witnesses what Baxter had done.
The findings come three months after a long-awaited coronal investigation into the deaths of Mrs Clarke, her children and Baxter.
Throughout the investigation, the court was told that Baxter was constantly displaying controlling and abusive behaviors toward Mrs. Clarke.
Some of them included controlling what Mrs. Clarke was wearing and who she could see, demanding sex every night, and reprimanding her body image.
It was told in court that Baxter abducted Mrs Clarke’s Laianah on Christmas Day 2019, fleeing north of NSW before the boy returned days later.
On another occasion, he assaulted the young mother after she confronted him about why he had explicit photos of her in his car, something Baxter hoped to use in court.
Ms Bentley said she considered it unlikely that any further action by police, service providers and the family could have prevented Baxter from carrying out his “killer” plans.
He described the separated ex-husband as a “master of manipulation.”
“After Hannah left him and realized he could no longer control her, he began gathering the support of friends he hadn’t seen in years and professionals he felt could advance his cause,” Bentley said.
Bentley said Baxter committed suicide in a “final act of cowardice,” unable to live with the public outcry and punishment he would receive.
The court was told that most of the statements provided in the investigation gave an insight into Baxter’s controlling and abusive behavior.
“The truth is, Hannah, who knew him better, was initially in favor of him having contact with the kids … but she perceived that she was becoming more dangerous,” Bentley said.
“Their fears were genuine and realistic and were finally confirmed in the worst way.”
Ms Bentley said police missed opportunities to hold Baxter responsible, citing his response to his breach of the domestic violence order.
The court was told there was inadequate training for police officers on domestic violence, especially for front-line officers.
Ms. Bentley also had a “significant lack of counseling and support programs” for perpetrators of domestic violence in Queensland.
“However, in this case, I am satisfied that even if it had been available, Baxter was not interested in participating in these programs unless he favored his cause … (of) Hannah accepting his wishes,” he said. .
Ms. Bentley recommended that immediate comprehensive training be needed to keep police informed of the legislation.
He said support agencies did not recognize the “extreme lethality” of Ms. Clarke’s domestic violence situation.
This was attributed to the lack of physical violence inflicted by Baxter.
Ms. Bentley made four recommendations, including funding from the Queensland government, the QPS, to offer a “five-day face-to-face training program on domestic violence for all police officers specializing in domestic violence.”
He also recommended that QPS include mandatory face-to-face training for all police officers and try a police station specializing in domestic violence for 12 months with specialized personnel, including detectives and child safety workers and housing support.
“My final recommendation is that the Queensland government provide funding for men’s behavior change programs in both prisons and the community as a matter of urgency,” Ms. Bentley said.
“I offer my sincerest condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, other relatives and friends and relatives of their children.”
Out of court, Hannah’s parents, Sue and Lloyd Clarke, said they were very pleased with the findings.
“We were expecting most of the results,” Clarke told reporters.
“We need to see everything recommended in each state implemented.”