Australia - Hannah Baxter, & Laianah, Aaliyah & Trent, set on fire, died, Brisbane, Feb 2020

[PrimeSuspect]

Hannah Clarke and her children remembered as hundreds attend funeral service in Brisbane

Hannah Clarke and her three children are being laid to rest in a single shared coffin after hundreds gathered to remember the family who were brutally murdered last month.

Five speakers gave readings and words of comfort, including friends of Ms Clarke as well as her brother Nat Clarke.

He called his sister "one of the greatest mums to walk this Earth".

Hannah Clarke and her children to be laid to rest in a single shared coffin

 

[they'll get you]

Murdered mum Hannah Clarke posthumously honoured as one of Australia’s Women of the Year
Despite having burns to 97 per cent of her body, Hannah Clarke did something that left police in “awe” before she died, earning a new honour.

The children, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, died in the car while Hannah jumped from the driver’s seat screaming: “He’s poured petrol on me.”

She later died in hospital – but not before giving police detailed statements about the horrifying incident and the years of psychological abuse.

Now the 31-year-old has been recognised in the inaugural marie claire Women of the Year list for her bravery in bringing nationwide attention to a lesser known form of domestic abuse – coercive control.
Domestic violence victim Hannah Clarke named one of Marie Claire’s Women of the Year

 

[they'll get you]

Coercive control is a strategic pattern of behaviour designed to exploit, control, create dependency and dominate. The victim’s every day existence is micro managed and her space for action as well as potential as a human being is limited and controlled by the abuser.

Initially lovebombing and charm may occur to get the victim into the relationship. Gaslighting, isolation, economic control and financial abuse and rules and regulations are gradually introduced over time once the victim is emotionally invested as well as a consequence if they are broken. The rules apply to the victim rather the perpetrator creating a double standard and the victim fears the consequence if she breaks a rule.

Over time, coercively controlling behaviour erodes the victim’s sense of self, their confidence and self-esteem, agency and autonomy.
So, what exactly is coercive control? - Laura Richards

 

[they'll get you]

“Though she had burns to 97 per cent of her body, Hannah still managed to give police a clear and articulate statement,” Hannah’s mother, Sue Clarke, told marie claire. “She pushed herself to repeat it; the police were in awe. It was truly to make him pay – she was going to fight for her babies to the end.”

Before Hannah and the kids were killed, they had moved into her parents house to escape Baxter’s controlling behaviour.


In early January, Baxter was given a domestic violence order (DVO) by a Brisbane court for kidnapping one of their children and taking her interstate against Ms Clarke’s wishes.

The family claimed he stalked Hannah through her mobile and knew where she was at all times. Baxter also forced her to have sex with him every night.

Speaking to A Current Affair after Hannah’s death, her mum Sue described how Baxter “manipulated” her daughter, breached a DVO and tried to control her life.

She died alongside children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, when estranged husband Rowan Baxter torched the car they were in. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Corp Australia

Nicky Briger, marie claire editor, said Hannah displayed “incredible bravery and resilience during those last horrific hours of her life to ensure her story was told” and it was important her efforts were recognised.

“Because of Hannah, coercive control was given nationwide attention, and now her parents – Sue and Lloyd – are carrying on her legacy by fighting to make coercive control a crime in Australia,” she said.
Domestic violence victim Hannah Clarke named one of Marie Claire’s Women of the Year

 

[they'll get you]

The Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation was launched in August to raise awareness about controlling relationships and in a bid to criminalise coercive control.

“Hannah’s story has already changed so many lives. People who didn’t understand what coercive control was have now realised they are actually in an abusive relationship,” her father, Lloyd Clarke, said.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Today is the first anniversary since Hannah and her beautiful little children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey were so brutally murdered. I think of them often and can't imagine the pain felt by the Clarke family today and every day. May they rest in peace forever.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Inquest into killing of Hannah Clarke and her children to begin in March

"This inquest is an opportunity to reflect upon what could have been done differently — or better — to identify the escalating risks posed by Baxter in the weeks leading to 19 February.
"The evidence will paint a complex picture."
The court was given a detailed timeline of events leading up to the murders, including Baxter's purchase of a jerry can, fuel and cable ties in the days prior.
It heard Baxter made an unusual request to borrow his aunt's car, which he then used to stake out the family on the morning he attacked them.
Ms Brasch said this evidence indicated he had not made a "a sudden nor snap" decision to hurt his family.

'She knew her children were dead': New details revealed ahead of inquest into Hannah Clarke's killing

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Hannah Clarke inquest hears her final pleas for children despite burns to 97 per cent of her body

Harrowing accounts of the scene were recounted by first responders on the second day of an inquest into the death of the Brisbane family.

Off-duty paramedic Stephanie Ring was one of the first people to come to the aid of Ms Clarke, after she fled the car that had been ambushed by her estranged husband.

Despite Ms Clarke having severe burns to 97 per cent of her body, Ms Ring told the court the 31-year-old's main concern was for her children.

'Incredibly brave': Despite extensive injuries, Hannah Clarke gave police details of deadly car blaze, inquest hears

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Hannah Clarke inquest hears estranged husband showed 29 of 39 'lethality indicators' of domestic violence before car blaze

Details of the family's last few months have been revealed during an inquest into their deaths, which is examining if further police and domestic violence action could have been taken to protect them.

• The indicators include prior suicide threats, child custody disputes and pending separation
• Hannah Clarke raised concerns with police after her estranged husband tried to abduct their middle child
• The court heard it was hard for police to predict domestic violence murders

Hannah Clarke's estranged husband showed 29 'lethality indicators' of domestic violence before car attack, court hears

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Baxter was self-absorbed and selfish, thinking everything revolved him and he was "a victim every time", Martin Coll told the inquest on Wednesday.

Mr Coll, who knew the couple for about five years, said Baxter once confided that when another relationship was breaking down years before he contemplated an abduction at knifepoint.
....
The inquest was told Baxter admitted to a friend he left a recording device at Ms Clarke's house.
"He then overheard Hannah talking to her mother, where they called him a narcissist and other derogatory names," counsel assisting Jacoba Brasch QC said, referring to the friend's statement.

Hannah feared husband would kill her

 

[PrimeSuspect]

An intimidating hothead, never in the wrong.
A vain and obsessive gym junkie who would put down anyone who beat him.
A bullying husband controlling his wife's every move, including demanding daily sex, dictating her wardrobe and ordering her work schedule.
A paranoid ex who bugged her home, tried to get her sacked from her job and left photos of her in underwear out for their children to see.
.....

Earlier, four witnesses who had close associations with Baxter or Ms Clarke in the lead up to the murders gave evidence to the inquest.

The witnesses who included a pastor, a friend and a former employer of Ms Clarke painted a picture of a man who had been getting away with narcissistic, destructive and bullying behaviour for years.

A hot-headed narcissist, a bullying gym junkie, a paranoid ex: Witnesses paint chilling picture of Hannah Clarke's estranged husband

Poor Hannah bravely fought on so she could give police a statement while in hospital, an incredible lady who deserved so much better.

The really frustrating thing about this, it was never about Hannah and these precious children, or his ex-girlfriend. It was 100% about him and his inner demons, he was incapable of having a normal, loving relationship, imo.
No one could ever live up to his expectations or demands, he craved death, he just played around with people until he couldn't take his ****ed up mind anymore or they deserted him, which ever came first, he was an extremely dangerous man from the get-go! JMO

 

[they'll get you]

"This inquest is an opportunity to reflect upon what could have been done differently — or better — to identify the escalating risks posed by Baxter in the weeks leading to 19 February.

"The evidence will paint a complex picture."

The court was given a detailed timeline of events leading up to the murders, including Baxter's purchase of a jerry can, fuel and cable ties in the days prior.

It heard Baxter made an unusual request to borrow his aunt's car, which he then used to stake out the family on the morning he attacked them.

Ms Brasch said this evidence indicated he had not made a "a sudden nor snap" decision to hurt his family.
'She knew her children were dead': New details revealed ahead of inquest into Hannah Clarke's killing

 

[brissygirl2019]

I hope that something comes out of the inquest that goes some way to make changes to how reporting your concerns to the police is handled.

I have no idea what can be done or changed, but the "we cannot do anything until he/she does something" response from police bothers me. It is almost always too late once he/she does something

I will be reading Counsel's recommendations with interest once they are released.

RIP Hannah, Aaliyah, Laianah, and Trey. What happened to you all is unforgivable

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Chilling footage of Hannah Clarke's estranged husband shopping for fuel can, zip ties shown to inquest

Clad in his trademark muscle singlet, the former gym owner can be seen calmly strolling the aisle, pausing for 10 seconds with a bag of zip ties in his hands before he reaches in, grabs a fuel can and goes to pay.
……..
Also played to the inquest was Baxter's phone call to a helpline at 4.41pm the day before the murders.

The 42-year-old told the responder he felt like he was "in a game" and complained that his wife was trying to get him "to breach" his orders.

"I just about need to wear a spy cam on me 24/7," he told the men's helpline.
Earlier, evidence was presented to the inquest that Baxter had actually been surveilling his wife by leaving an old iPhone in her car, listening in to her phone conversations and, at one stage, he spied on her from a tree.

He told the responder that, after he moved to Australia from New Zealand, "he met a lovely lady at the time and had children but, unfortunately, it's gone sour in the past two months".

Chilling footage of Hannah Clarke's estranged husband shopping for fuel can, zip ties shown to inquest

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Hannah Clarke's parents have described how the murder of their daughter and her three children at the hands of her estranged husband has destroyed their lives, leaving them with "no escape" from the "shadow of that moment".

Her voice breaking, Ms Clarke said she has been unable to pack up the girls' room as they left it two years ago.

She said their house had once been filled with noise and chaos of young children but was "now very quiet".

"Holidays, like Christmas and Mother's Day are almost unbearable. The gaping hole in our family will never be filled,'' she told the inquest.

Hannah Clarke's parents tell inquest of the 'unbearable' suffering following family's murder

 

[brissygirl2019]

The devastating moment Hannah Clarke was told by police: ‘There’s not a great deal we can do’

And there it is, again. "There's is not a great deal we can do".

This case, I don't like calling it a case, it's so much more than a case to the family, loved ones & friends of Hannah, Aaliyah, Laianah, and Trey. But it is a case in the eyes of the law, police, DV case workers etc.

We have to do better, we just have to. I completely understand that when RB took Laianah that day from her mum there were no Orders in place and no Orders means the police really can't do anything.

Why were there no orders in place? IMO because they were newly separated and Hannah was too terrified to put Orders in place (as stated in this article) IMO Hannah wanted to quietly get on with her life, a life without control & fear. She said that there had been no physical violence, she underestimated him

Even if RB was put in the watch house for breaching the Orders that did get put in place on Jan 31st, Magistrates just turn them loose in most cases

Orders are at the end of the day just a piece of paper, we have to be wiser, smarter and more proactive, over cautious even. Don't listen to what others might tell you, they may say you are over-reacting, she'll be right mate, he'll calm down, he wouldn't hurt you etc. If in your gut you have any niggle of worry, any concerns, act on that gut feeling & act swiftly.

My heart breaks for all of them & for the family left behind to live with this sadness & trauma for the rest of their lives.

Devastating moment Hannah Clarke was told: ‘There’s not a great deal we can do’

 

[they'll get you]

Heartbreaking questions Hannah Clarke’s parents ask themselves every day
In a devastating victim statement, the parents of murdered Hannah Clarke have lashed her killer husband as a ‘coward and bully’.


The gut-wrenching questions Hannah Clarke’s parents ask themselves daily

 

[brissygirl2019]

Their everyday life must be hell

 

[they'll get you]

As Hannah Clarke lay dying with her children trapped inside a burning car, her estranged husband Rowan Baxter was still trying to stop people from helping them, an inquest into their deaths has been told.

Key points:

• The inquest has heard evidence from those who tried to help the family after they were set alight
• A woman told the court she was met with a man with "brute strength" who was "guarding the car"
• The three children perished in the car, while Ms Clarke died from her injuries shortly after the attack

Severely burned, he moved around "growling" and "guarding" the blazing vehicle containing the children while their mother rolled around trying to extinguish the flames engulfing her, the Brisbane inquest heard.

The chilling testimony came from bystanders who were present as the horrific incident unfolded.

Hannah Clarke tried to fight off estranged husband, ripping his shirt moments before car exploded, inquest hears

 

[JudgeJudi]

The Coroner realises the system is broken and has recommended immediate comprehensive DV training together with annual refreshers. I’m truly surprised that it took such a tragic case to bring this to the attention of police as DV accounts for half their workload.

Much has been written about women being most at risk when they try to leave a relationship and yet the numbers keep rising exponentially. IMO the police should also attend high schools and educate girls re DV as many will have started dating. Single women and girls also end relationships and they too need to be aware at an early age of potential risks. I agree with Hannah saying that she thought a DVO would make the situation worse as this has often been the trigger for murder.

Watch as Hannah talks to the police just after RB abducted 4 y.o Laianah and see RB just days before he committed this shocking crime. This tragic case haunts me and I’ll never forget it.

Coroner sheds tears while revealing Hannah Clarke inquest findings