It’s been eight months since Kelly Wilkinson was left to die in her Gold Coast backyard after allegedly being set alight by her estranged partner in the presence of their three young children, all aged under nine.
In the final weeks leading up to her April 20 murder, the 27-year-old was in “daily” contact with police, urging them to take action against the escalating abuse she had allegedly faced for months at the hands of her ex-husband, American-born former marine Brian Earl Johnston.
“She came forward and said, ‘I am scared for my life, I am scared for my children’s life. We are not safe’,” Ms Wilkinson’s sister, Danielle Carroll, recalled after her death.
“She was saying this to the police over and over and nothing was done. There was no support, there was no safeguard.”
On Wednesday, Mrs Carroll and her husband Reece, who took in Ms Wilkinson’s kids, revealed the heartbreaking question they still ask every night about their mum.
Speaking at the launch of Be There – a new smartphone app developed by Griffith University, Telstra and the Queensland Government to help bystanders recognise domestic and family violence – the couple opened up about how much her children missed her.
“You still get Kelly’s three (kids) wanting their mum every second or third night, which is horrible for them, but everyone is moving forward pretty well,” Mr Carroll said.
He urged anyone witnessing domestic violence to speak up “even if it doesn’t work the first time”.
“We knew what we were seeing was wrong, but we didn’t have a label for it or understand coercive control,” Mr Carroll said.
“We intervened at certain points in little things but for the most part you just thought, ‘Just stay out of their business’.”
Had they better understood the many forms domestic and family violence can take, “things would have been totally different for our family”.
“In our situation we didn’t consider it to be as bad as what it was because we weren’t seeing people getting physically abused,” Mr Carroll said.
“But it just changes like a light, overnight basically, so to have the sort of information in the app to show that what you’re seeing is actually really dangerous is a … priceless tool to have in your kit.”
Mrs Carroll called on people not to turn a blind eye to domestic violence.
“Just keep trying to help and let them know that you will be there for them when they’re ready to leave,” she said.
In October, a lawyer for Mr Johnston, Ms Wilkinson’s alleged killer, said the 34-year-old was “on the mend” – after “barely” being able to talk while on remand – but would likely remain behind bars until his sentencing.
Both Mr Johnston and another man, Bradley Bell, have been charged with her murder.
Police have alleged Mr Bell, 25, drove Mr Johnston to the home where Ms Wilkinson was killed, and helped fill up a jerry can with fuel along the way.
“In Queensland law, you can be held culpable for murder in those circumstances,” Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn said in July, describing Mr Bell’s acts as “preparatory”.
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“This man was interviewed by police at the time of Ms Wilkinson’s murder … he gave a version at the time (and) subsequent police investigations have been able to discount that version.
“We will allege he knew what the end result was going to be.”
Police allege Mr Johnston then doused his estranged wife in petrol before setting her alight upon arriving at the Arundel home.
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