This violence must stop: nation mourns as mother Kelly Wilkinson dies in flames

Kelly Wilkinson’s death of a Gold Coast mother amid an alleged rampage by her husband triggers renewed calls for action on domestic violence.

Gold Coast-based Kelly Wilkinson and her US-born husband, Brian Johnston, had three children. Picture Facebook

The burning death of a Gold Coast mother amid an alleged rampage by her estranged husband has horrified the nation, triggering renewed calls for stepped-up action by police and safety agencies to stop domestic violence.

Kelly Wilkinson, 27, was allegedly assaulted and burned to death in the backyard of her ­Arundel home by former US marine Brian Earl Johnston while their three children were inside.

Police say he had breached a domestic violence order.

They are now piecing together how Mr Johnston, 34, allegedly contravened the order to set upon his separated wife on Tuesday morning.

His lawyer, who had been representing him in relation to the DVO and family breakup, said there was no sign of trouble when he met Mr Johnston on Sunday.

The quiet neighbourhood 30 minutes’ drive from Surfers Paradise was still reeling on Wednesday as detectives and forensic police continued to comb the nightmare scene that engulfed the rented property on Spikes Court that Ms Wilkinson kept spick and span for the children.

Originally from Ohio, Mr Johnston left the Marine Corps in 2005 and embraced life in Australia. Social media posts record happy scenes of their wedding in 2012 and family life on the Gold Coast, where Ms Wilkinson moved in a circle of active and involved young mothers.

Described as a loving woman, she was still grieving the death of her own mother, Karen, who died suddenly two months ago at 55.

Neighbours described a tableau of horror after shouting was heard from the address and police were called about 6.40am on Tuesday.

Flames licked over the fence, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported. Ms Wilkinson, her clothes alight, was seen to be motionless against the fence when emergency crews arrived to find her dead.

Blood stained the rear patio near where three knives, a melted plastic jerry can and a duffel bag containing rope, duct tape and a steel jemmy bar were allegedly found. A blood trail led to a nearby property where a semi-conscious Mr Johnston was arrested.

He had serious burns and was rushed to hospital in Brisbane.

Charges against him of murder and breaching a DVO were mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Police at the site of the Arundel tragedy. Picture: Steve Holland

Outside, his solicitor Chris Hannay said the accused man was in a “pretty bad way” with substantial injuries. He said he had spoken to Mr Johnston on Sunday concerning “other serious matters” and had no inkling he could pose a threat.

“He was pretty coherent, he was with a colleague of his,” Mr Hannay said. “We went through a whole range of things about the domestic violence issues … and the kids and family.

“No one expected this to happen. Everyone thought it would channel along as part of the normal process.”

Lloyd Clarke, father of Hannah Clarke, burned to death along with her three children by her serially abusive husband in Brisbane in February last year, spoke out on Wednesday to decry Ms Wilkinson’s death.

“These poor three children are now motherless for an act of violence that is totally unexplainable and really we need to support this family,” he told Brisbane radio 4BC. “This has brought back some demons we thought we had gotten over. We are still struggling with things and this doesn’t help. It should never have gotten to this stage, it’s unexplainable.”

Women’s Safety Minister Anne Ruston said the alleged details of Ms Wilkinson’s death were “truly horrifying”.

“It is shocking to think this could happen in a modern country like Australia,” she said.

Senator Ruston, appointed to the new ministerial role in last month’s cabinet reshuffle, is spearheading the next national plan to reduce domestic violence.

As part of the framework’s development, she wanted to work with the states and territories to strengthen apprehended and domestic violence orders.

“A piece of paper will never keep a woman safe or make her feel safe unless she knows it will be enforced. We need to consider how we can enhance technologies, police resources, and come up with innovative ways to ensure AVOs are being enforced so we don’t have to keep having this conversation,” she said.

Following the murder of Hannah Clarke and Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, Scott Morrison said the family had “every right to feel angry, furious” because the system failed them.

Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman told state parliament on Wednesday her heart went out to Ms Wilkinson’s children and family, saying “Enough is enough”. She said the Queensland government had spent more than $500m preventing domestic and family violence but more needed to be done.

Queensland Women’s Legal Service chief executive Angela Lynch said the response by police and safety agencies to high-risk domestic violence situations needed to be more nimble.

She said perpetrators could be forced to wear ankle bracelets or be subject to other forms of monitoring to prevent them from breaching DVOs or confronting an ex-spouse in high-risk situations.

Additional reporting: Adeshola Ore