Kelly Wilkinson: Mother-of-three’s horrifying final moments revealed

When neighbours rushed to Kelly Wilkinson’s home after seeing flames rising over the fence, nothing could have prepared them for what they saw.

Warning: Distressing

When neighbours rushed to Kelly Wilkinson’s home after seeing flames rising over the fence, nothing could have prepared them for what they saw.

They had heard shouting from the Gold Coast home in the quiet suburb of Arundel in the early hours of Tuesday morning — but when they looked over 27-year-old Ms Wilkinson was lying motionless against a fence.

They told the Gold Coast Bulletin the mother of three’s clothes were on fire when they looked into the yard.

Blood stained the rear patio near where three knives, a melted plastic jerry can and a duffel bag containing rope, duct tape and a steel jemmy bar were allegedly found around the home.

The Bulletin reports that witnesses are believed to have told police they had seen a man dressed in black with blood on his hands and wrists running from the home.

“He turned up in the bushes in the house next door to me – his left arm was heavily bandaged,” one neighbour told 9 News.

Brian Johnston is the estranged husband of Kelly Wilkinson and has been charged with her murder at Arundel on the Gold Coast. Picture: Facebook

“(A passer-by) saw the fella and asked you know, ‘are you okay mate?’ He made some remark like, ‘I’m fine’, but he had his head down.”

When officers followed a blood trail led to a nearby property, they allegedly found semiconscious former US Marine Brian Earl Johnston — Ms Wilkinson’s estranged partner.

By the time emergency services had arrived, however, Ms Wilkinson was already dead — allegedly assaulted and burned to death in the backyard of her ­own home.

It could take nine months before pathologists are able to determine the full extent of her injuries.

Johnston had serious burns and was rushed to hospital in Brisbane, where he has been charged with murder.

Outside, his solicitor Chris Hannay told reporters the accused man was in a “pretty bad way” with substantial injuries.

Ms Wilkinson had died by the time emergency services had arrived. Picture: Facebook

He said he had spoken to Johnston on Sunday concerning “other serious matters” and had no inkling he could pose a threat.

“He was pretty coherent, he was with a colleague of his,” Mr Hannay said. “We went through a whole range of things about the domestic violence issues … and the kids and family.

“No one expected this to happen. Everyone thought it would channel along as part of the normal process.”

Ms Wilkinson meanwhile has been remembered as a loving and caring mother.

A resurfaced photo Ms Wilkinson posted to a community Facebook page in November last year highlights the mother-of-three’s heart of gold.

“Hello is there any kids who missed out on trick or treat. We have plenty left I have sorted into bags if anyone wants to stop by for a bag I’m happy to dress up in my costume,” Ms Wilkinson wrote alongside a photo of lollies and chocolate she had placed into individual zip lock bags.

A resurfaced photo Ms Wilkinson posted to a community Facebook page in November last year highlights the mother-of-three’s heart of gold.

Her death has sent shockwaves throughout Australia, shedding yet another light on the problems we have with domestic violence.

Lloyd Clarke, father of Hannah Clarke, burned to death along with her three children by her serially abusive husband in Brisbane in February last year, spoke out on Wednesday to decry Ms Wilkinson’s death.

“These poor three children are now motherless for an act of violence that is totally unexplainable and really we need to support this family,” he told Brisbane radio 4BC.

“This has brought back some demons we thought we had gotten over. We are still struggling with things and this doesn’t help. It should never have gotten to this stage, it’s unexplainable.”

Johnston is now before the courts, but his matter won’t be heard in court again until June 4, in the domestic violence court at Southport.