Restraining order failed to keep family’s killer at bay

Police have confirmed that Hannah Clarke was granted a domestic violence order to keep her estranged husband at bay.

Hannah Clarke with children Laianah, 4, Aaliyah, 6, and Trey, 3.

Extra shot latte, Big Dog blend. Hannah Clarke had the same thing every day, texting her takeaway coffee order to her favourite Brisbane cafe, Blackbird Espresso in Camp Hill’s Martha Street.

A creature of habit, Ms Clarke’s routines would be used against her by her estranged husband, Rowan Baxter, a possessive and controlling ex-NRL player who was stalking her every move, relatives say.

Barista Helen Nguyen.

On Wednesday, barista Helene Nguyen took her order about 6.30am. “It was just another day for her,” Ms Nguyen told The Australian. Less than two hours later, Ms Clarke would be set alight in her car by her husband, the couple’s children, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, trapped in the back seat. None of the five would survive.

A picture is emerging from Wednesday’s carnage of a woman in fear but trying to move on with her life, at the most dangerous time of any troubled relationship — the time when you leave.

Ms Clarke had fled her family home with her children late last year, gaining sanctuary at the home of her parents and reverting to her maiden name.

According to relatives and her text messages, she took out an AVO against her powerfully built 42-year-old husband, a fitness trainer. Police have confirmed a history of violence.

“I’m safe, I’m with my parents … I’m just so glad I got out when I did,” she wrote to a friend this month.

Ms Clarke was alarmed when her ex took one of their daughters and fled to NSW, keeping the child for four days until they were found by police.

Her devastated parents, Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke, told media on Thursday that Baxter was spiralling out of control, tracking his wife’s location by hacking into her phone.

A “control freak”, Baxter would “get in her headspace and she would give in”, Mr Clarke said.

This time she’d taken her children “without saying anything” ­because it was the only way.

“We still don’t know how he got so close,” Mr Clarke said.

“He’s obviously ambushed her somehow, I’m sure she would not have stopped for him, she would be more likely to run over him.”

Hannah’s brother, Nat Clarke, said their parents had done all they could to get their daughter away from the “monster” she married. Hannah thought she was through the worst of it.

“The last thing my sister said to my wife was ‘I’m so excited, this year will be great’,” Nat said in a Facebook post.

Detective Inspector Mark Thompson said police had extensive dealings with the family for domestic violence issues.

“I can confirm that Queensland Police have engaged with both Hannah and her estranged husband in relation to domestic violence issues,” Mr Thompson said.

“We have engaged with both of the parties in referring them to support services. When it comes to Hannah, we have dealt with her on a number of occasions, we have ­actively worked with the Brisbane Domestic Violence Centre in supporting Hannah throughout her family issues. We’ve also referred Rowan Baxter to support services as well.”

Ms Clarke had been granted a domestic violence order preventing her husband from coming near her, he said. “I can say that domestic family violence paperwork and applications were put to court,” he said. Queensland police must report incidents of domestic violence — not only of a physical nature — to the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women when children are involved.

The department is understood to have only one record of the family on its files, via a police report triggered when Baxter assaulted his wife while picking up or dropping off their children on an ­arranged visit in recent months.

Hannah’s daily routine started with a four-minute drive from her parents’ home in Durimbil Street, Camp Hill, to her favourite coffee shop. She had been a regular there with her husband before they separated. In recent times the pair would arrive at separate times.

“Hannah had spoken to me about the relationship and Rowan did mention something to me as well,” Ms Nguyen said.

Occasionally after their split the former couple would cross paths at the coffee shop.

“If Rowan would see Hannah he’d cancel his order straight away and leave,” Ms Nguyen said.

Ms Clarke arrived for her coffee about 6.45am Wednesday and left around 7am, after waiting for an extra cold brew coffee for her ­father. After returning home, she left to drive her children to school about 8.20am.

Baxter was waiting.