BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – In the lead up to her tragic murder, a young Australian mother-of-three sought help from various police stations, expressing fears for her life, yet tragically, she did not receive the assistance she desperately needed. On April 20, 2021, 27-year-old Kelly Wilkinson was tied to a clothesline and set on fire by her estranged husband, former US marine Brian Earl Johnston, at her home in Arundel on the Gold Coast.
In the days before her murder, Wilkinson had visited multiple police stations seeking help, but her visits were mistakenly characterized as ‘cop shopping’ in official notes, reported Guardian Australia. Johnston, 37, pleaded guilty to murdering Wilkinson in the Brisbane Supreme Court just weeks before he was expected to stand trial.
Wilkinson’s family has called for an inquest to investigate how the system failed to protect her, following the revelation that she had contacted the police about Johnston’s abusive behavior. Despite facing charges for domestic violence offenses, Johnston was given watch house bail, and in the weeks leading up to her murder, Wilkinson continued to express her fears to the police almost daily. She was even turned away from one police station due to unavailability of help, creating a heartbreaking picture of the help that was desperately needed but not received.
Following Wilkinson’s tragic death, Queensland police assistant commissioner Brian Codd acknowledged the failure of the system, highlighting the need to examine the extent of systemic failure that led to Wilkinson’s death. The sentencing hearing for Johnston is set for March, with contested facts surrounding the background of the relationship and motivation for the murder.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, the community rallied around Wilkinson’s three children, with an entrepreneur undertaking efforts to secure housing for them. Johnston’s background in the US Marine Corps was also revealed, shedding light on his past. The deep tragedy of Wilkinson’s death underscores the urgent need for effective intervention in cases of domestic violence, and her family’s quest for justice seeks to bring about greater accountability and change.