‘He’s trying to kill me’: Inquest told Hannah Clarke’s killer tried to stop attempts to save family

An inquest into the horrific murder of Hannah Clarke has recounted the shocking final act of her killer. WARNING: Distressing

WARNING: Distressing content

The estranged ex-husband of Hannah Clarke tried to stop neighbours from extinguishing the blazing car that had engulfed the woman and her three children before he took his life, an inquest has been told.

The shocking final act of Rowan Baxter was revealed by one of Ms Clarke’s neighbours as he relived the horrifying moment the Queensland mum died screaming for her babies in February 2020.

Two years after Ms Clarke and her children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, were murdered by Baxter, a long-awaited coronial inquest is now examining the shocking domestic violence killing and what more could have been done to save the young family.

A coroner is examining the horrific death of Hannah Clarke and her three children, who were slain by her ex-husband Rowan Baxter in a horrific arson attack in Camp Hill in 2020.

The inquest heard Rowan Baxter (left) tried to get in the way of rescuers attempting to save his estranged wife and young children.

Ms Clarke, 31, and her three children were killed on February 19, 2020, after Baxter ambushed them outside the Clarkes’ family home in Camp Hill.

Armed with a jerry can, Baxter jumped in the car’s passenger seat and doused it in petrol before it exploded.

On Monday, multiple eyewitnesses of the horror arson attack were called to give evidence on the inquest’s first day.

Neighbour Reece Gourlay gave evidence he saw an “agitated” Baxter pacing the car as it was engulfed in flames.

Neighbour Reece Gourlay told the inquest Rowan Baxter appeared to be trying to stop attempts to extinguish the burning car. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The way he was pacing around the car was making it difficult for my neighbour who was trying to put the fire out,” he said.

“He looked as though he was trying to get in the way of that.”

Despite Mr Gourlay asking Baxter to get away, he ignored everything and instead jumped back into the passenger’s side.

Mr Gourlay told the court he then saw the man emerge with a knife.

“He (Baxter) took a few steps onto the nature strip, then crouched and started holding the knife to his abdomen,” Mr Gourlay said.

The court was told Ms Clarke drove into a neighbour’s driveway screaming: ‘Call the police, call the police, he’s trying to kill me, he’s poured petrol on me.’

Other eyewitnesses gave evidence of hearing Ms Clarke’s terrified screams and hearing a loud bang when the car was set ablaze.

Neighbour Michael Zemek said he heard a “hysterical scream” as the car pulled up in his driveway.

While washing his car, Mr Zemek said Ms Clarke cried: “Call the police, call the police, he’s trying to kill me, he’s poured petrol on me.”

“Baxter had Hannah in a bear hug, he was sitting in the front seat … she was trying to get free,” he said.

Mr Zemek said the car suddenly exploded and he then saw Ms Clarke covered from head to toe in flames.

“I grabbed the hose and tried to get her to roll on the ground so I could try and extinguish the flames,” he said.

Witness Michael Zemek told the court what happened on the horror morning of Hannah Clarke’s death. Picture: Liam Kidston

Rowan Baxter was holding Hannah Clarke in the front seat before her car exploded as she screamed and tried to escape, a witness said.

Mr Zemek recounted Ms Clarke lamenting how she could not save her children but did not realise the three were in the car’s back seat.

Another neighbour, Samantha Covey, gave evidence that she attempted to approach the car when she learnt the children were inside but said the vehicle was “engulfed in flames”.

The inquest will examine any contact Ms Clarke and Baxter made with domestic violence services prior to the horrific murder.

Hannah’s parents Sue and Lloyd Clarke arrive at the inquest in Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

It will also examine the responses from police and domestic violence services to Ms Clarke’s complaints of Baxter’s controlling behaviours.

The inquest, before deputy state coroner Jane Bentley, is expected to run for eight days.