Police told Kelly Wilkinson to ‘cool off’ and give estranged husband ‘a break’ days before he burned her to death, inquest hears | Queensland

Kelly Wilkinson was turned away from Southport police station and told to “calm down, give Brian a break” as she sought help just four days before her estranged husband Brian Earl Johnston burned her to death in 2021, an inquest heard.

The claim was made in an extraordinary 11th hour presentation in which counsel acting on behalf of his family successfully applied to adjourn the judicial inquiry to hear further evidence relevant to the claim.

Their lawyer, Mitch Rawlings, said Queensland police’s claim during the investigation that Wilkinson last spoke to police on April 12, 2021 was false.

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He said that he also went to the police station on April 16 (four days before the murder), but there was no record of this attendance in the police force.

“One of Kelly’s sisters took him to Southport police station, where he stayed in the car while Kelly got out with some documents,” Rawlings said.

“He returned to the car a few minutes later and complained that the person at the front desk turned him away, saying things like, ‘Calm down, give Brian a break.’”

Wilkinson then called two more people and repeated the same story, Rawlings said.

He said Wilkinson’s sister, Danielle Carroll, made the allegation in an interview with police following Wilkinson’s death.

Thursday was to be the final day of the three-day trial into the 2021 murder in which Johnston stabbed Wilkinson, doused her with petrol and set her on fire at her Gold Coast home.

Deputy state coroner Stephanie Gallagher heard this week that police missed two opportunities to take action in the days before Wilkinson’s death.

The court heard on Wednesday that a police officer improperly granted bail to Johnston eight days before he killed Wilkinson on April 20, 2021.

Another officer improperly recorded Wilkinson’s drive to Southport and recorded in an internal police logbook that he was “police shopping” when reporting a complaint because he had previously attended another police station the same day.

Katherine McGree, acting on behalf of the Gold Coast-based Center for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, argued that the April 16 incident could be seen as a third missed opportunity.

He said the center forwarded Wilkinson’s complaint to the police, which requested that the matter be investigated. McGree said he sent an email on April 13 advising an officer to return to the police station if he had evidence to support his complaint.

McGree told the court: “Kelly was actually following advice she received from Queensland police. She stood in front of the counter and was turned away.”

Gallagher decided to postpone the inquest to a later date to allow new evidence to be considered.

“These are allegations right now and there is an investigation to follow,” he said.

The coroner heard Wilkinson contacted police four times before the murder, except for April 16.

He was flagged as a high-risk aggrieved party, meaning “a proactive police response to the risk is recommended.” However, a referral to a specialist domestic violence liaison officer was never opened and he never prepared a safety plan.

Johnston, 37, pleaded guilty to Wilkinson’s murder in 2024. Judge Peter Applegarth sentenced Wilkinson to life imprisonment.

The court heard he stabbed Wilkinson multiple times and set him on fire at his home in the early hours of the morning, using a 20-litre can of petrol.

Outside court, Carroll thanked the coroner “for taking a closer look at the issues surrounding Kelly’s death.”

“All Kelly wanted from life was to love and be loved, and there are no words to describe the pain she suffered in her final moments. There will never be words said to her children that will make them feel better. A mother can never be replaced,” he told the inquest held early on Thursday.

The investigation continues.

national in Australia domestic violence counseling service on 1800 737 732. In the UK, call the national number. domestic violence helpline Call 0808 2000 247 or visit: Aid to Women. The domestic violence hotline in the US is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be reached at: www.befrienders.org.