/ 22 March 2022

Getting to the bottom of a tragedy

Image source: Facebook
Image source: Facebook

The violent murder of Brisbane woman Hannah Clarke and her 3 children at the hands of husband/father Rowan Baxter in 2020 shocked the nation and put a spotlight on family violence. Two years on, a coronial inquest is underway that will investigate the months preceding the attack and what could have been done to protect the victims. Yesterday, the inquest heard that as the kids were trapped inside the burning car and bystanders tried to help Hannah, her estranged husband blocked people trying to assist before stabbing himself with a knife. Baxter died at the scene. Clarke had taken out a domestic violence order against Baxter. And a support worker took a call from Baxter 16 hours before he killed his family. It’s a painful exercise for Hannah’s parents, but her father Lloyd says they will attend the hearings to “work out where the system let Hannah and her children down.”

Know someone who'd be interested in this story? Click to share...

The Squiz Today

Your shortcut to being informed, we've got your news needs covered.

Get the Squiz Today newsletter

Quick, agenda-free news that doesn't take itself too seriously. Get on it.