Gold Coast court hears murder charge against man accused of burning former partner
Charges against a man accused of murdering Gold Coast mother Kelly Wilkinson and setting her alight have been heard at a Queensland court.
A lawyer who spoke with the accused man says no one could have predicted the tragedy.
Brian Earl Johnston, 34, of New Beith, is charged with murder and breaching a domestic violence order and his bail conditions after the burned body of Wilkinson, a mother of three, was found in a Gold Coast backyard.
Johnston was arrested on Tuesday two blocks from the Arundel property, where his former partner’s body was found, and he is suffering burns to his hands and possibly his airway.
He was transferred to the burns unit at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Brisbane and remained under police guard as his charges were mentioned on Wednesday morning in Southport magistrates court.
After the brief mention, lawyer Chris Hannay said outside court that Johnston was “in a pretty bad way”.
Hannay had met with Johnstone on Sunday, less than 48 hours before he allegedly attacked and murdered Wilkinson.
“On Sunday, I got some instructions from him in relation to some other fairly serious matters that he has been charged with, and I haven’t spoken to him since,” Hannay said.
Johnstone did not appear distressed or agitated for the weekend conference, Hannay said.
“Not really, he was pretty coherent. We took suitable instructions. He was there with a colleague of his,” Hannay said.
“We went through a whole lot of things about the domestic violence issues with the DV and the kids and the family.
“Obviously, no one expected this to happen, but everyone thought that they were just chugging along as a normal process.”
Johnston cannot apply for bail in the magistrates court and was formally remanded in custody until 4 June.
Hannay said Johnstone was expected to apply in the supreme court for bail in the coming months.
Neighbours reported raised voices coming from the home about 6.40am.
“It was obviously a very confronting scene – a female person deceased in the rear yard of a residence, apparently suffering from burn-type injuries,” Det Insp Chris Ahearn said on Tuesday.
Three children, all under the age of nine and present at the time of the incident, might have witnessed Wilkinson’s death. All three were safe and would be interviewed as part of the investigation.
Police have been speaking with residents and stopped rubbish collections because potential evidence may have been dumped in a bin.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family and pay for Wilkinson’s funeral.
Fundraiser organiser Natalie Wilkinson said: “Please help us! We appreciate any help no matter how big or small.”
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org