An inquest has revealed that Queensland police wrongfully granted bail to Kelly Wilkinson’s estranged husband, Brian Johnston, shortly before he murdered her, despite her being flagged as a high-risk victim.
Kelly Wilkinson, who had previously alleged rape against her estranged husband Brian Earl Johnston, was classified as a high-risk victim by both the Queensland police and a domestic violence service. However, only days after being improperly granted bail by a police officer at Southport station, Johnston murdered Wilkinson by setting her on fire at her home on April 20, 2021. This tragic incident has prompted public scrutiny over the police's handling of domestic violence cases and bail decisions.
During the ongoing inquest into Wilkinson's murder, Deputy Coroner Stephanie Gallager highlighted the serious failures in the police process, as Johnston's rape allegations should have been treated as "show cause" offences—a classification that requires a magistrate's review. DI Suzanne Newton from the Ethical Standards Command emphasized that police were not authorized to grant bail in such situations, indicating a breach of the bail act and raising questions regarding police training and protocols related to domestic violence cases.
The inquest, which began on Tuesday in Southport, aims to dissect the events leading up to Wilkinson's murder, examining the systemic issues within the police force that allowed for this grievous error in judgement. As the public and advocacy groups await the findings, the focus is on ensuring that such oversights do not occur again, as well as increasing awareness and support for victims of domestic violence.
