Hannah Clarke inquest: Picture emerges of manipulative Rowan Baxter

Hannah Clarke’s estranged husband was so clinical and calculating in his murderous act that even the coroner leading the inquest into Hannah’s death was shocked to discover just how far-reaching and convincing his manipulations were.

It was Christmas Day 2019, and a repentant Rowan Baxter stepped into his best performance of “loving dad”.

They’d worried about inviting him – a terrified Hannah Clarke had weeks earlier vomited in fear after Baxter had taken the children and disappeared with them for the day.

But that day he’d been on his best behaviour at the Clarke family home, laughing and playing with the children he’d been using to harass the wife who’d dared to leave him.

For Christmas, he’d given them gift cards so Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, could go toy shopping.

It was only later that their grandparents, Sue and Lloyd, would discover the gift cards were empty – after three excited children had picked out their presents.

That was Baxter – the master manipulator, the poor single father who had been struggling to get by while his “crazy” ex-partner ruined his life.

“Rowan Baxter was not mentally ill,” Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley said yesterday, as she delivered the findings for the inquest into the murders of Hannah and her children.

“He was a master of manipulation. After Hannah left him and he realised that she had obtained support and did not intend to give in to him and his demands, he began to rally support from friends he had not seen for years and professionals he considered could advance his cause.

“He received funds and support from a number of friends and family members, who believed his lies that Hannah was treating him badly and that he was being victimised by her.”

Hannah Clarke and children

Hannah and her children were murdered by Baxter on February 19, 2020, after he forced his way into her car during the morning school run.

He poured petrol on them and set them on fire, menacing bystanders who ran to help put out the flames.

Baxter then stabbed himself through the heart in what Ms Bentley described as a “final act of ­cowardice”.

“He would make himself out to be the victim and tell the Clarkes that Hannah had mental problems and she was the cause of issues,” Ms Bentley said in her findings.

On Boxing Day, Baxter had snapped, snatching his middle child while visiting with the children at a park.

It would take police three days to get four-year-old Laianah back, with officers using the incident to put a domestic violence order in place.

Hannah Clarke and her three children, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, were killed by Rowan Baxter.

“He took her to the house of his friend in New South Wales,” Ms Bentley said.

“The friend sent Hannah a text message stating this was her fault and she shouldn’t keep the children.”

On January 8, Baxter, a failed personal trainer, turned up to court with two barristers and a solicitor to contest the domestic violence order.

He’d cried victim – and poor – to convince all three to act for him pro bono.

By January 19, he had another solicitor on board.

“He acted pro bono as Baxter was friends with his brother and Baxter said he was struggling financially,” Ms Bentley said.

Days later, he posted to Facebook “thanking his ­supporters and stating that having had his children taken from him was crippling and he would not stop fighting to have them 50 per cent of the time”.

Rowan Baxter

On January 31, he breached the domestic violence order – assaulting ­Hannah after baiting her by printing out explicit photographs he had taken of her and leaving them on the back seat where their son could see.

“I’m very smart about what I do,” he told a police officer who came to speak to him about the breach.

Baxter bombarded his lawyer with emails, demanding to know why nothing was happening.

A friend reminded Baxter to be patient, particularly given that the lawyer had agreed to act for him in return for training sessions and that Baxter had not provided any.

“He said he was sick of Hannah pulling stunts like this and he planned to file a DVO application against her for emotional abuse and withholding the kids,” Ms Bentley said, referring to Baxter’s communication with his lawyer.

But of great concern, she said, were the friends and ­associates who maintained, even after the murders, that the controlling, abusive and dishonest Baxter was also a victim.

“A number of his friends and associates – both men and women – gave statements to police in which they stated that Baxter loved his wife and children, he was a great father and that his actions were somehow excused or explained by the fact that he was ‘losing everything’, he was victimised by the process and that Hannah should not have kept his children from him,” Ms Bentley said.

“Even when Hannah was extremely fearful of him, she continued to facilitate safe contact between Baxter and the children.”

Hannah’s parents Sue and Lloyd Clarke this week. Picture: Sarah Marshall/NCA NewsWire