The findings of an inquest into the deaths of Brisbane woman Hannah Clarke and her three young children have been handed down.
Ms Clarke and her children, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, were murdered by her estranged husband Rowan Baxter when he torched their car at Camp Hill in February 2020.
Look back at how today's events unfolded.
Warning: This report contains content some people may find distressing.
Key events
Live updates
By Bridget Judd
Read the coroner's recommendations
This concludes today's blog, but you can read more from our reporters in Brisbane about the inquest findings and responses.
Family and domestic violence support services:
- 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
- Women's Crisis Line: 1800 811 811
- Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491
- Mensline: 1300 789 978
- Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line): 131 114
By Bridget Judd
'With the education, hopefully no-one will fail to see that risk again'
The deputy state coroner made four recommendations requiring "immediate attention", including training programs for all specialist police, state government funding for men's behaviour change programs and trials of a specialist domestic violence police station for 12 months.
Speaking to reporters a short time ago, Sue Lloyd said she hoped that with more education, "no-one will fail to see that risk again".
"With this further education now, the face to face five day training... this is what we've been asking for and need," Mr Lloyd added.
By Bridget Judd
Police missed opportunities, but response was appropriate
Deputy State Coroner Bentley found that while there were missed opportunities, overall the response by police was appropriate.
"[Baxter] was not charged and put on bail for the offence of breaching a domestic violence order and assault occasioning bodily harm, instead he was given a notice to appear for the breach and charge of common assault.
"However, overall I felt that Hannah was dealt with appropriately by the police officers with whom she had contact."
Ms Bentley gave praise to two officers, one of whom helped Ms Baxter first realise she was a victim of domestic violence and "did everything she could to help and assist Hannah", and another officer who was a first responder at the scene and took Hannah's statement before her death.
By Bridget Judd
By Bridget Judd
Inquest reinforces need for reform, coroner says
Reporting by Alexander Lewis
Deputy State Coroner Bentley said the inquest reinforced the need for recommendations put forward in the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce report.
The Hear her voice report made 89 recommendations to the Queensland government about essential reforms required to the domestic violence service and justice systems.
The Queensland government has agreed to implement each one and has started an independent inquiry into broader cultural issues in the police service.
The coroner accepted the pandemic hindered police resources and the “scourge” of domestic violence placed “every increasing” demands on the service.
By Bridget Judd
Deputy State Coroner concerned by 'attitudes that continue to purvey our community'
Reporting by Tara Cassidy
In handing down her findings, Deputy State Coroner Bentley said some statements given to police were indicative of ongoing issues and community attitudes around domestic violence.
“The majority of statements provided by friends and associates of Hannah and Baxter provided insight into the controlling nature of Baxter’s personality and how it led to the deaths,” Ms Bentley said.
“However it is of great concern and reflective of the attitudes that continue to purvey our community [that] even after Baxter had killed Hannah and children, a number of people continued to give statements to police in which they stated that Baxter loved his wife and children.
"[That] he was a great father, and that his actions were somehow excused or explained by the fact that he was losing everything, was being victimised by the process, and that Hannah should not have kept his children from him.
“The truth is that Hannah, who knew him best, was initially in favour of him having contact with their children but became fearful of their safety, as she correctly perceived that he was becoming more dangerous.”
By Bridget Judd
While the inquest is over, Sue and Lloyd Clarke say their fight for change continues
Reporting by Alexander Lewis
But Mr Clarke told reporters that while the inquest was over, their fight for change will remain ongoing.
“We need to keep this conversation going. It’s an uncomfortable conversation that we’ve started and we’re having,” he says.
Ms Clarke added that Baxter failed to realise Hannah's strength, and "underestimated how much a mother will fight".
“He didn’t love the children like she did.”
By Bridget Judd
Hannah Clarke's parents call for recommendations to be considered nationally
"It's not just Queensland but we think that every state in Australia [should consider the recommendations], it's not just a Queensland problem," Sue Clarke said.
Lloyd Clarke added other states need to "look at what Queensland started" and "follow suit as well".
Mr Clarke says the recommendations are welcome and many of them were anticipated.
"Again, education, the more education people [have], will understand children are at risk as well. Often they now seem to focus on the partner, not children," Ms Clarke added.
By Bridget Judd
'Immediate attention' recommendations include strengthened domestic violence training for police
Reporting by Alexander Lewis
The deputy state coroner has made four recommendations requiring “immediate attention”.
- 1.The Queensland government fund QPS to provide a five day face-to-face DV training program for all specialist DV police officers as a matter of urgency
- 2.Police introduce a mandatory face-to-face DV module for all officers as part of the service’s annual Operational Skills Training
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3.The Queensland government trials a specialist domestic violence police station for 12 months. The station must have at least the following:
- 1.Specialist DV police officers, including a detective to investigate criminal offences
- 2.A specialist DV support worker
- 3.A child safety officer from the Department of Child Safety to assess the risk of harm to children of families affected by DV
- 4.A Queensland Health worker to assess mental health, drug and alcohol issues and the wellbeing of children
- 5.A lawyer to provide legal advice to police and victims
- 4.The Queensland government provide funding for men’s behaviour change programs, both in prisons and communities as “a matter of urgency”.
By Bridget Judd
Agencies failed to recognise 'extreme risk' Ms Clarke would be killed
Reporting by Alexander Lewis
Deputy State Coroner Bentley said every agency that dealt with Ms Clarke failed to recognise the “extreme risk” she would be killed.
“That failure probably came about because Baxter had not been violent and had no relevant criminal history.”
Deputy State Coroner Bentley's voice broke as she closed the inquest, offering her condolences to Ms Clarke’s parents Sue and Lloyd Clarke.
Mr and Mrs Clarke watched the remarks over a livestream from a packed courtroom in Brisbane, as Deputy State Coroner Bentley handed down her findings from Southport Court, on the Gold Coast.
By Bridget Judd
Coroner finds further actions by authorities 'unlikely' to have stopped Baxter from murdering Ms Clarke and their children
A Queensland coroner has found any further actions by authorities were “unlikely” to have stopped Rowan Baxter murdering Hannah Clarke and their children.
Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley is delivering her findings, which run for more than 150 pages.
She says Baxter was determined on “executing his murderous plans”.
“He was not mentally ill, he was a master of manipulation,” Magistrate Bentley told the court.
More to come.
By Bridget Judd
Advocates say findings could be a 'powerful tool for change'
The nine-day inquest concluded at the end of March, with lawyers putting forward a raft of suggestions about what more could be done to try and prevent anything similar from happening.
Speaking to the ABC's Talissa Siganto shortly after, Julie Sarkozi, a lawyer from the Women's Legal Service, said the findings would be a "powerful tool for change" and believed the recommendation for learning programs for officers needed to be prioritised.
She added that she would like to see a recommendation about community education and awareness programs that are specific to identifying the signs of coercive control.
"This would have a profound impact on victims being able to act self-protectively, more effectively and sooner," she said.
"As a community, we can get more skilful at providing and supporting opportunities for women and children to be safe."
By Bridget Judd
Coroner expected to make recommendations around domestic violence responses
Good afternoon. The findings of an inquest into the deaths of Brisbane woman Hannah Clarke and her three young children are being handed down this afternoon, after about 1:15pm (AEST).
The nine-day inquest has been examining contact Ms Clarke had with domestic violence services or counselling services, the nature of contact Rowan Baxter had with domestic violence services or counselling services, and the responses of relevant agencies.
In her closing submissions to the inquest, Jacoba Brasch QC, counsel assisting the coroner, presented a series of recommendations for consideration, including:
- Better training for responders to domestic violence, improved information sharing and streamlining of domestic violence orders
- A five-day specialist training course for police "to bring everyone up to the baseline" on responding to domestic violence by the end of 2022, and then mandatory refresher training annually
- A trial of a multi-disciplinary specialist stand-alone police station, staffed by police domestic violence specialists and a detective to specifically investigate incidents such as strangulation and sexual assault
The Clarkes' lawyer, Kylie Hillard, has called for better training for officers, funding for housing for domestic violence victims, and changes to the domestic violence act.
