Reported from the source

Quick summary: An inquest has heard allegations that Kelly Wilkinson was turned away from Southport police station and told to “cool off, give Brian a break” just four days before her estranged husband, Brian Earl Johnston, murdered her in 2021. The claim, made by her family’s lawyer, suggests police records are incomplete regarding her interactions. The coronial inquiry has been adjourned to consider this new evidence.

Kelly Wilkinson reportedly sought help at Southport police station on April 16, 2021, but was turned away, according to an extraordinary submission by her family’s lawyer, Mitch Rawlings. Rawlings stated that Wilkinson’s sister drove her to the station, where Wilkinson was told by a front desk officer to “Just cool off, give Brian a break.” This alleged interaction occurred four days before Johnston stabbed Wilkinson, doused her with petrol, and set her on fire at her Gold Coast home on April 20, 2021. Rawlings challenged Queensland police’s assertion that April 12, 2021, was Wilkinson’s last engagement with them, noting there is no internal police record of her April 16 attendance. Wilkinson’s sister, Danielle Carroll, later made this allegation to police. Katherine McGree, representing the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre, argued this incident could be a third missed opportunity by police. The inquest had already heard of two prior missed opportunities: an officer improperly granting bail to Johnston eight days before the murder, and another officer improperly recording Wilkinson’s attendance as “cop shopping.” Despite being flagged as a high-risk aggrieved party, Wilkinson never had a referral to a specialist domestic violence liaison officer opened, nor was a safety plan prepared. Deputy state coroner Stephanie Gallagher decided to adjourn the inquest to allow for an investigation into these new allegations. Johnston pleaded guilty to Wilkinson’s murder in 2024 and was sentenced to life in prison.

Source: www.theguardian.com