Police Advised Kelly Wilkinson to ‘Cool Off’ Before Her Murder
Kelly Wilkinson was turned away from Southport police station and told to “cool off, give Brian a break” while seeking help just four days before her estranged husband, Brian Earl Johnston, burned her to death in 2021, an inquest has heard.
The allegation was made in an extraordinary 11th hour submission by the lawyer acting for her family as they applied to adjourn the coronial inquiry to hear additional evidence about the allegation.
Mitch Rawlings, acting on behalf of the family, said police’s claim that 12 April 2021 was the last time Wilkinson engaged with police was false.
He said that she also attended the police station on 16 April – four days before her murder – but that there is no record of this attendance in the internal police system.
“One of Kelly’s sisters drove her to the Southport police station, where she remained in the car while Kelly got out of the car with some documents,” Rawlings said.
“She returned to the car moments later and complained that the person at the front desk turned her away saying words to the effect of, ‘Just cool off, give Brian a break,’ words to that effect”.
Rawlings said Wilkinson had then called two additional people and repeated the same story.
He said Danielle Carroll had made the allegation in a recorded interview with police, subsequent to Wilkinson’s death.
Inquest Details and Police Conduct
Thursday was scheduled to be the final day of a three-day hearing into Wilkinson’s 2021 murder, when Johnston stabbed her, doused her with petrol and set her on fire at her Gold Coast home.
Deputy coroner Stephanie Gallagher has already heard this week that police missed two opportunities to act in the days before Wilkinson’s death.
One officer spoke to Johnston eight days before he murdered Wilkinson on 20 April 2021, the court heard on Wednesday.
Another officer improperly recorded Wilkinson’s attendance at Southport, and noted in an internal police log that she was “cop shopping”.
Support and Resources
In Australia, the national domestic violence hotline is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, call the national domestic violence helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit their website. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines may be found via relevant online resources.
