KELLY’S FINAL HOURS
Police allegations of a horror scene: A melted plastic jerry can, three knives scattered in the backyard, duct tape and flames shooting up over a fence alerting neighbours
ALARMED neighbours rushing to the home of Kelly Wilkinson – as flames leapt over the back fence – encountered a horror scene, police will allege. Police found what appeared to be a melted jerry can, knives and duct tape. The mother-ofthree, aged 27, was motionless against the backyard fence. Her ex-partner Brian Earl Johnston, still in hospital, has been charged with murder by setting her alight.
THE horrific death of mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson has devastated and shocked the Gold Coast community, with locals overwhelmed by a sense of sadness that “this has happened again”.
Leaving behind three children aged nine and under, the 27-year-old tragically lost her own mother just eight weeks ago. Karen “Kaz” Wilkinson died suddenly on February 28 aged just 55 years. She was the “much loved soulmate of Reg. Loving mother of Danielle,
Emma, Kelly and Natalie. Adored nanny to her 8 beautiful Grandchildren”. Kelly was allegedly killed in eerily similar circumstances to Brisbane woman Hannah Clarke and her three children, who died one year ago in an act of domestic violence. Hannah’s father Lloyd told 4BC’s Neil Breen that his “thoughts and prayers go out to Kelly Wilkinson’s family and close friends” saying the young mother’s death had “brought back some demons” for the family. Across the Gold Coast there has been an outpouring of emotion, with hundreds of locals paying tribute to the young mother, often seen in Arundel walking her young children to school.
Rachel Walshe said she was “absolutely heartbroken by the news”.
“Kelly always lit up the room with her smile and always had us laughing,” she said. “Every memory with Kelly brings a smile to my face. Kelly, you will be missed so dearly, we will never forget you.”
On a GoFundMe page set up by Kelly’s sister Natalie, Roz Chia said she was a mum who “had fought and survived”.
“My children are fortunate to still have their mother. I have very little to share but sharing what I have, because Kelly’s children need us to care today and every day,” she said.
A school friend of Kelly’s, Ruby Lorenz, said she was “heartbroken and disgusted and angry this has happened. I am lost for words”.
Jill Ellis said she was “absolutely horrified that this has happened again,” and Hannah Krueger said “kids should never be without their mum”.
Nearly $90,000 had been donated to the family as of Wednesday night, with Natalie saying she was “lost for words with the generosity found within the community”.
RizeUp Australia’s Gold Coast founder Nicolle Edwards said there was an overwhelming sense of helplessness in the community, with feelings of “oh not again, why does this keep happening”.
“The death of Kelly, a mother of three, a daughter, a sister and a friend, is having a ripple effect in the local community,” she said.
“We’ve been inundated with calls and messages from people in the community, particularly families from Arundel State School, asking what they can do to help.”
Since the start of the year RizeUp has helped nearly 80 Queensland families leave domestic violence, and Ms Edwards said it was really important that the community looked at how they could individually act to help prevent incidents of domestic violence.
“From checking in with friends and family, to being good roles models for our children and teaching respect at home. We must not lose sight of the individual and collective role we can play in helping to avoid such tragedies.
“The accountability should match the rage that is felt by the community.”
Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence director Di McLeod said, like the rest of the community, she was “shocked and very, very sad”.
She said “my heart goes out” to the children.
“It was only seven weeks ago that we had a rally for Robyn Beaver at Norm Rix Park, and we’ll be observing Kelly Wilkinson’s death at a Red Rose Rally on Friday April 30 to remember her life.
“Homicide is the most extreme form of domestic violence.”
Bonney MP Sam O’Conner, who lives not far from the site of the alleged crime, said many families in the area would “feel this profoundly, especially everyone at Arundel State School”, where at least one of Ms Wilkinson’s children is enrolled.
“They’ll know what this tragedy means for those three young kids who will carry this loss and trauma with them for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Queensland AttorneyGeneral Shannon Fentiman said: “Every death from domestic and family violence is unacceptable and a tragedy. My deepest sympathies go out to the family of
Kelly Wilkinson and in particular her three young children. Enough is enough.”
Meanwhile, 26 Domino pizza franchisees, from Ormeau
to Tweed Heads, are hosting a fundraiser for the Wilkinson family on April 28, with $1 from every pizza sold on the day being donated to the family.