Queensland police say improvements needed after death of mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson

One of Queensland’s top cops says the system ultimately failed Kelly Wilkinson and domestic violence needs to be spoken about more often.

One of Queensland’s top cops says the force needs to do better on domestic violence, implores complaints are taken very seriously and “ultimately” the system failed mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson.

Ms Wilkinson’s burnt body was found in the rear of a Gold Coast house on Tuesday morning.

Her estranged husband Brian Earl Johnston, 34, has been charged with the 27-year-old’s murder.

Johnston was given watch-house bail a week before her death and was due to face court on four serious matters next week.

The “system” failed Kelly Wilkinson, one of Queensland’s top cops says. Picture: Facebook

Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said everyone in the community needed to speak openly about domestic violence, including police, as too often it was only spoken about behind closed doors.

He said a review would examine all contact between police in the lead-up to her death.

“She’s been killed, we will allege, in horrific circumstances. Somewhere along the line, she had engaged with the system, with us,” Commissioner Codd told reporters.

“I think it's important that we examine to what extent it is a systemic failure.

“We haven’t come to that conclusion yet, but there’s certainly, ultimately it’s a failure. A woman has died.

“I’d be loath to allow women to think for one moment that the stories are listened to.”

Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd says all interactions Kelly Wilkinson had with police will be reviewed to determine if improvements can be made. Picture: Nigel Hallett

He said any areas that needed improving would be addressed following a review of all interactions with Ms Wilkinson.

The review will run parallel to a task force that was already examining domestic, family and sexual violence.

The task force was set up in March following the death of Doreen Langham, 49, in a house fire in late February.

Just days before Ms Langham’s death, a vigil was held for Hannah Clarke and her three daughters who were burned to death by her ex-partner in February 2020.

A government-appointed task force into domestic, family and sexual violence was set up in March following the death of Doreen Langham, 49, in a house fire in late February. Picture: Facebook

“We're certainly going to make sure we correct any parts of the system that we control that we can improve,” Commissioner Codd said.

He said there were 107,000 incidents of domestic violence last year and it had been overwhelming for the force but not a reason for any failures of the system.

“I think there's a cultural issue that we all have to own and police are not immune to that,” he said.

“All too often, we will speak about issues to do with domestic violence and family violence matters in hush tones, as if they are taboo subjects. They are things that are behind closed doors and private matters.

“Police in some instances are not immune, particularly, I guess, when faced with the sheer volume of these matters.”

Superintendent Rhys Wildman said every officer on the Gold Coast had been saddened by Ms Wilkinson’s death. Picture: Jerad Williams

Gold Coast District Superintendent Rhys Wildman said Ms Wilkinson’s death had reverberated emotionally through the force and he was deeply saddened by what had occurred.

“This has dramatically affected every officer on the Gold Coast and officers have been devastated by what’s occurred,” he said.

Up until January 31 this financial year, there have been 16,249 DVO applications made through the courts, with 73.4 per cent of those on behalf of women, 26.4 per cent men and 0.1 per cent “unknown”.

The state’s crime statistics show in January there were 3175 reported breaches of domestic violence protection orders, more than double the number logged in January 2015 when 1482 were recorded.