Murdered Queensland mum Hannah Clarke constantly feared her abusive ex-husband would hurt her three young children to “get back” at her, an inquest has been told.
Multiple police officers who met with Ms Clarke before she and her children were murdered in a heinous domestic violence killing will give evidence at an inquest into the death of the young mum, her ex Rowan Baxter and their children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3.
Senior Constable Kirsten Kent revealed she had dealings with Ms Clarke after she had left the abusive Baxter and how she assisted the young mum in getting protection and court-imposed orders.
She told the court on Monday that Ms Clarke came into Carina Police Station in December 2019 at the insistence of her mother Sue.
The pair spoke in the station’s interview room where Constable Kent said she was not greatly concerned at first.
She recalled telling the young mum that not all bad behaviour was considered domestic violence.
“Nothing greatly concerned me at first, then I explained to her a bit more about what domestic violence was, the process and going through and getting an order,” Constable Kent said.
“She then disclosed to me that he (Baxter) makes her have sex every night … that’s concerning behaviour.”
On February 19, 2020, Baxter ambushed the young family as they drove to school, dousing the car in petrol and setting it alight.
The court was told Ms Clarke was constantly fearful that Baxter would hurt the children to “get back” at her.
Baxter had earlier spoken about having “a rope and a plan” in reference to a murder-suicide involvinxjmtzywg his ex-partner – something that troubled Ms Clarke greatly.
Constable Kent said at the time there was not enough evidence to form a family violence order.
A few days later, she saw Ms Clarke at The Athlete’s Foot store and she was “scared” to see her.
The mother of three panicked and asked if anything had happened to her children when Constable Kent approached.
“She was so fearful, ” Constable Kent said.
“I had not seen such authentic fear from an aggrieved before.”
After obtaining more information of the controlling behaviours Baxter exhibited and getting his criminal history from New Zealand authorities, Constable Kent said she attempted to serve him with a police protection notice (PPN).
He was not home at the time, having abducted Laianah off the street and taken off to NSW.
“At this time I knew what the kind of man he was and how he would not accept the PPN,” Constable Kent said.
The inquest continues.
Domestic Violence helplines
