Stepson of murdered mum Hannah Clarke sues for slice of $3.6m estate
The son of Rowan Baxter, who killed his wife Hannah Clarke by setting her car alight, has launched legal action for a slice of her multimillion-dollar estate.
The son of killer Queensland dad Rowan Baxter, who murdered his wife Hannah Clarke and their young children in an act of domestic violence that shocked the world, is suing his stepmum’s parents for a slice of her multimillion-dollar estate.
Isaiah Jesse Rowan Baxter says he will suffer for the rest of his life as a result of their deaths and losing his half-siblings in the shocking murder back in February.
The 23-year-old has filed papers in Brisbane Supreme Court seeking part of the $3.6 million estate owned by Hannah’s parents, Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke.
He claims no adequate provision has been made for him in the estate and needs the funds to move on with his life, education and ongoing treatment.
Hannah Clarke and her three children, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, were killed in February when Baxter ambushed them on their way to school.
After dousing the four in petrol, the estranged husband set the car alight before stabbing himself to death.
In his affidavit, Isaiah Baxter says he considered the Clarkes to be “second grandparents” and was close with Hannah before her death.
“My relationship with Rowan was strained for my whole life as a result of his abusive and controlling behaviour towards me and the same behaviour I witnessed from him towards my mother and Hannah,” Isaiah’s affidavit reads.
“I had very good relationship with Hannah, as I think she understood the struggles I experienced as a result of my relationship with Rowan.”
Mr Baxter said his biological parents separated when he was 12.
He began staying with Hannah and his father several times a week while the pair were starting a new family.
Mr Baxter said he believed his father would pay child support to his mother and would contribute to his school fees, but this did not occur.
At age 17, Mr Baxter said he returned from an outing to find his father had cleared out his bedroom and ordered him to leave.
After that, he lived with his mother and stepfather, moving with them to Hong Kong upon finishing high school.
In his affidavit, Mr Baxter said his father had no assets and was advised he would receive $4244.52 from Rowan’s superannuation and another $40,000 in victim’s crime compensation.
In November, he learned his father’s $1.82 million life insurance policy would be paid to Hannah’s estate – contrary to legal advice he received earlier in the year.
Mr Baxter, who is unemployed, not studying and cannot claim government benefits as he is not an Australian citizen, says he is entirely dependent on his mother and stepfather for financial support.
His affidavit reveals he has been seeing a psychiatrist for depression and anxiety since 2013 as a “direct consequence” of his fractured relationship with Rowan, and had recommenced sessions after the incident.
Since adopting the family’s dog, Mr Baxter claims he has been saddled with at least $3500 in legal fees.
“I make this application in order to obtain sufficient funds to assist with building my future and moving on with my life as best as I can,” his affidavit reads.
Mr Baxter claims Hannah’s parents have already received their daughter’s life insurance policy and are “financially sound” in addition to generous donations.
“As both Rowan and Hannah died without wills, it cannot be determined what their intentions were regarding their estates,” he says.
“However I verily believe that they would have both intended to provide for me financially in the event of their deaths.”