Brisbane car fire tragedy: home video emerges of Rowan Baxter playing with kids
A confronting home video has surfaced showing Rowan Baxter playing aggressively with his three children.
A confronting home video has emerged showing Rowan Baxter playing aggressively with his three children who were killed in a horrific car fire in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The children, aged just 3, 4 and 6, were with their mother, Hannah Baxter, when they were ambushed by their father and set alight in an SUV.
Rowan Baxter died on the footpath after jumping in the passenger seat and stabbing himself, while Ms Baxter succumbed to her injuries in hospital on Wednesday night.
In the video, posted just weeks ago, Rowan, a former NRL player, can be seen sitting on the floor play-fighting with his three children, Laianah, Aaliyah, and Trey.
The video begins with Rowan pushing Trey, the youngest, roughly into the bed headfirst.
Trey, wearing only a nappy and a small shirt, appears to be crying in the video, while the daughters appear to be giggling.
When asked if the children would like to continue the playfight, one answers “I don’t want to” before being drowned out by the sound of Trey crying.
He proceeds to wrestle the children, throwing them to the ground.
Rowan Baxter then puts Trey in a headlock before pushing him roughly to the ground, where he lands on his hands.
Rowan Baxter posted the video on January 6 as the family was disintegrating, according to The Courier Mail.
“Sweet dreams my babies xo. Love you to the moon and back,” he wrote on the Facebook post that accompanied the video.
Rowan Baxter had been living alone at the family’s Carindale residence since separating from his wife in December last year.
Police were reportedly investigating previous acts of family violence before the suspected murders on Wednesday.
Neighbours have told The Courier Mail that Rowan Baxter had become so reclusive after his wife and the children left the family home he had left washing on the clothesline for two months.
Photos show faded towels and clothes hanging in the sun in the Rowan Baxter’s backyard, while toys and household items were strewn across the back patio.
Rowan Baxter’s recent posts on Facebook have seen him share multiple photos of the kids, writing, “Daddy loves you.”
Five days ago his friend Joey Abraham wrote under a photo of Trey: “Chin up brother everything will work out just hang in there my bro alot of people care about you and the situation your facing. (sic)”
“The only time I heard his voice raised was when he was playing with kids, and that was because he was having fun,” a neighbour said.
“It sounded like he was pretty close to his kids.”
If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide call Lifeline (13 11 14), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).
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