Hannah Clarke’s murderous husband planted a hidden recording device in her own home, overhearing Ms Clarke’s call with her mother and her calling him a “narcissist”, an inquest has been told.
The shocking claims emerged on the third day of an inquest into the deaths of Ms Clarke, her estranged ex-husband Rowan Baxter and their children, with former friends and colleagues of her murderous ex shedding light on his “controlling and paranoid” behaviours prior to the horrific killing.
The horror unfolded on February 19, 2020 when Ms Clarke and her children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3 were on their way to school.
Baxter ambushed the young family, dousing Ms Clarke and the family car in petrol before setting it on fire.
On Wednesday, the court was told Baxter left a “tape recording device” – an old iPad – in Ms Clarke’s house some weeks before the horrific attack.
Eoin Coffey, Baxter’s former friend, could not give evidence in person, but counsel assisting the coroner Jacoba Brasch read out parts of his statement to the court.
Dr Brasch said Coffey recalled a conversation where it was revealed Baxter had left the device recording in her house when he left with the children.
“He then overheard Hannah talking to her mother when they called him a narcissist and other derogatory names,” Dr Brasch said.
“Coffey told him recording wasn’t a good idea and … Baxter had some excuse that it was somehow magically to capture noise in the house.”
Another friend, Martin Coll, told the court Baxter “treated Hannah and the kids as possessions”..
When questioned about working full-time and raising three children, Baxter responded by saying he would go on benefits.
“He never had a proper view on how things would work out,” Mr Coll said.
“He had no thought of what’s best for the children; he was kind of concerned with what he wanted.”
Mr Coll gave evidence Baxter had told him his previous relationship in New Zealand had broken down and he had contemplated abducting his family at gunpoint.
“He had rope in his car; he was going to take them out somewhere and end it all, including himself,” Mr Coll said.
“For whatever reason, he didn’t go through with it.”
Earlier that day, church pastor Christopher Ensbey said a tearful Baxter broke down and cried on his shoulder when his marriage was in strife.
Despite Baxter’s appearance of genuine remorse, Mr Ensbey said he was more remorseful for “losing the way of his home life” and wanted to “tick boxes” to get his wife and kids back.
“He knew something was wrong and had to change but he didn’t have the self-awareness to know what to do,” he said.
“He (Baxter) only wanted to change what needed to be changed in order to keep his marriage the way it was,” he said.
Brad Clark, who employed Ms Clarke and Baxter at an Athlete’s Foot store, gave evidence of how Ms Clarke’s husband was a difficult employee who “didn’t like getting ‘No’ for an answer”.
The court was told he and Baxter had previously played rugby together in New Zealand before moving to Australia.
Mr Clark said Baxter was highly critical of employees at the store and would often “burn bridges” with clients.
He said Baxter would often wear out shoes from the store, then return and demand a new pair.
Lewis Bartlett, who worked at the same store with Ms Clarke, told the court Hannah confided to him that Baxter would never let her do anything without her husband’s permission.
One incident involved her not being allowed to wear shorts because “Rowan wouldn’t let her”.
“Baxter was the kind of person who only rang me if he wanted something, like shoes or promoting his gym,” Mr Bartlett said
“He always came across as quite an intimidating person … always quite jealous.
Mr Bartlett said Baxter had revealed he planned to surprise Ms Clarke on their wedding anniversary but she begged the store manager to keep her on the roster.
He said Ms Clarke at one point told him Rowan was “out to get her” and said while he would never harm their children, she feared he would “use the kids as a bargaining chip”.
The inquest continues.
Domestic Violence helplines
