Hervey Bay court case has echoes of horror DV attack

A Queensland man, who doused his partner’s car with petrol while she was inside, has escaped jail time. Now, the foundation honouring Hannah Clarke, who died in a chillingly similar domestic violence attack, has called for tougher legislation which empowers courts to act before it’s too late.

*Distressing content*

“I should have just f***king burnt her.”

Those were the terrifying words of a Hervey Bay man who had just doused his partner’s car with petrol and stood over it with a lighter in his hand while she sat inside the car, thinking she was about to die.

The faceless aggressor, who can’t be named to protect the identity of his victim, could have made headlines for following through with an attack hauntingly similar to that which claimed the life of Brisbane mother Hannah Clarke and her three children.

This time however, a neighbour intervened and when the man’s day in court came, he was spared a jail sentence.

Now, the foundation which honours Ms Clarke has spoken out as chilling details about the case are revealed.

Hervey Bay Magistrates Court heard the man, who pleaded guilty to a series of domestic violence breaches had first hit his partner in the back while holding a phone and threatening to scald her with hot coffee.

During an argument over use of the car, he became aggressive and hit her on the arm.

In another incident, as she was popping a pimple on his back while in bed, he elbowed her in the face.

During a heated argument over his behaviour, one of their children witnessed the man punch the woman in the face.

Family photos of Hannah Clarke and Rowan Baxter – children Aaliyah 6yrs, Laianah 4yrs and Trey 3yrs.

They were forced to hide in a bedroom while they called police for help.

In the final incident, the man poured petrol on the woman’s car while she was sitting inside it.

He had a lighter in his hand.

The man was confronted by a neighbour and he left the scene, but was heard saying “I should have just f**king burnt her”.

The court heard there had not only been physical violence on that occasion, but children were witnessing it.

The man, a 35-year-old with a steady job, was said to have faced “adversity” in his life that had eventuated in addiction.

His mother had died and he’d returned to meth use.

He had experienced difficulties with the victim and staying in contact with his children.

The man was sentenced to six months in jail, wholly suspended for two years.

He was also placed on probation for 12 months.

Mark Woolley, chairman of Small Steps 4 Hannah, the foundation established to fight domestic violence in the wake of the deaths of Ms Clarke and her children, described the Hervey Bay attack as a “truly horrific” example of why laws needed to change.

He said changing legislation so tougher penalties could be handed down by courts was a vital step forward in bringing Australia in line with nations, such as Scotland, which had already passed legislation that recognised coercive control, behaviour that while not physically violent was controlling or threatening.

Mr Woolley said that was key in continuing the fight against domestic violence.

Coercive control was a pattern of conduct which may not be physical but could include isolation, or controlling when someone left the house, or having access to money.

“I feel for the court working within these restraints,” Mr Woolley said.

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