Neighbours remember slain mother Kelly Wilkinson as doting parent, say speaking about her death is ‘like reliving it’

A neighbour of slain Gold Coast mum Kelly Wilkinson has said there was ‘a lot going on’ on the morning of the 27-year-old's death.

Shocked neighbours in a quiet cul-de-sac on the Gold Coast have spoken of their distress and horror following the brutal death of a young mother they used to see walk her children to school and back home each day.

Kelly Wilkinson, 27, was found dead with burn injuries in her backyard on Tuesday morning. Three children, aged nine or under, were home at the time, and police have charged the woman’s estranged husband, Brian Johnston, with her murder.

The front door to Ms Wilkinson’s house was open on Wednesday as a ‘mobile forensic unit’ truck sat on the nature strip outside the Spikes Court abode in Arundel.

Kelly Wilkinson has been identified as the person found dead at Arundel on the Gold Coast Picture Facebook

A dated caravan sits in the front yard at Spikes Court, Arundel where police tape surrounds the front perimeter and anyone who approaches the property is warned to move away. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

The massive van blocked the view of a dated caravan that apeared out of place in the front yard of the cul-de-sac, where the houses are extremely well kept and lawns well-manicured.

Police tape surrounded the perimeter of the property and an officer, seated in a marked cop car, was seen warning off anyone who dared get too close to the driveway.

Neighbours told NCA NewsWire Ms Wilkinson was a devoted mother who mostly kept to herself.

All were still trying to fathom the extent of the tragedy and how it could have occurred in a cul-de-sac where everyone knows everyone and “nothing really happens”.

Neighbours are struggling to come to terms with the death of Kelly Wilkinson, who they say walked her children to school each day. Picture Facebook

“It’s quite stressful,” said one male neighbour, who along with the rest of the residents in Spikes Court, requested their name be withheld.

Asked if he heard anything on Tuesday morning out of the ordinary, he said: “There was quite a lot going on, I don’t really like talking about it, because it’s like reliving it.”

Ms Wilkinson had lived at the address for about 18 months before her tragic death on Tuesday.

Just a few doors from her home, one resident said she had regularly spotted Ms Wilkinson pushing a pram as she walked with her children to school every day, with the closest state school about a 30-minute walk from Spikes Court.

“I’d said hello four or five times and I was so upset last night to hear this had happened,” the distressed woman, struggling to hold back tears, told NCA NewsWire.

“I don’t think she had a licence and I realised she spent a lot of time in that house … that she never really interacted with anyone at the school, she just kept to herself.

“This is just so sad,”

Police at the scene at Spikes Court, Arundel on Tuesday. Kelly Wilkinson’s body was found in the backyard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

Further down the street, a male resident, who has lived in the cul-de-sac for more than two decades, was in disbelief.

He had seen Ms Wilkinson and her ex-husband walk past his home on occasions, although not so much in recent times, and had nodded or waved when they passed.

“They seemed like any other couple walking past,” he said.

“But you never really know.”

In the 24 hours that had passed since police discovered Ms Wilkinson’s body, he said many in the street have been left shaking their heads asking, ‘how could this happen?’

“It’s a bit close to home,” he said.

“It’s surreal because nothing really ever happens around here.”

Kelly Wilkinson kept to herself but was always responded when someone said ‘hello’, neighbours say. Picture Facebook

Local MP Sam O’Connor said Ms Wilkinson’s death had “shocked” the entire community.

“Many families in our area will feel this profoundly, especially everyone at Arundel State School” he said in a statement.

“They’ll know what this tragedy means for those three young kids who will carry this loss and trauma with them for the rest their lives.

“Our part of the Gold Coast needs to come together and do everything we can for these kids.”

Arundel State School Principal, Mr Landon Dare said the school community was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic loss of a parent to two of our students”.

“Kelly was much loved and appreciated in the school community,” he said. “She loved her children and helped out at the school whenever she could.

“Her loss is greatly felt by the whole school community.

“Support is being provided to our school community, and counsellors will remain on hand to provide support to the school in any way they can and for as long as it is

needed.”