A 27-year-old Australian mother of three sought help from police about her concerns regarding domestic violence from her estranged husband. Instead of receiving protection, she was turned away by officers who accused her of “cop shopping” and told her to give her husband more time, only to be stabbed and set on fire in her own home just four days later.
The case highlights serious failures in how domestic violence reports are handled by law enforcement. When victims reach out for help multiple times, it shouldn’t be dismissed as shopping around for a more sympathetic response.
This tragic story of a mother who was turned away by police shows what can happen when warning signs are ignored. The woman had tried to protect herself and her children, but the system that was supposed to keep her safe failed her in the worst possible way.
Kelly Wilkinson’s Pleas for Help and Police Response
Kelly Wilkinson reached out to multiple police stations in the days before her death, reporting violations of the domestic violence protection order against her estranged husband. Officers dismissed her concerns with accusations that she was “cop shopping,” and no action was taken on her final complaints about Brian Earl Johnston.
Attempts to Report Domestic Violence
Kelly contacted a domestic violence prevention center where she explained her fear of Johnston. She told staff he had military training and had threatened to kill her multiple times. The center assessed her as facing a high risk of violence based on the information she provided.
Nine days before her murder, Kelly reported that Johnston had breached his domestic violence protection order by contacting her. She tried reporting the violations at both Runaway Bay Police Station and Southport Police Station. Despite Johnston being on bail for allegedly sexually assaulting her and subject to a domestic violence order, her complaints didn’t result in any police intervention.
Police Statements and Missed Opportunities
An officer at Southport Police Station closed Kelly’s complaint file with a dismissive comment. The officer wrote that “it appears she is cop shopping to get the outcome she wants,” according to statements made at the pre-inquest conference. This critical assessment of Kelly meant her fears were not taken seriously.
A police review initially upheld the actions of the officers at both stations who handled her complaints. The review details have been kept hidden from Kelly’s family, who are seeking answers about how the case was managed. Her sister Danielle Carroll said the family wanted to see what was in the police review.
Details on Protection Order Breaches
Johnston violated the domestic violence protection order by contacting Kelly in the days leading up to her death. The protection order was meant to keep him away from her while he faced charges for sexual assault. Despite these legal restrictions, he continued to make contact.
One week after Kelly’s final complaint to police, Johnston entered her Arundel home wearing black clothing and a black mask. He carried a backpack containing a hatchet, duct tape, zip ties, and sedatives. The 27-year-old mother was repeatedly stabbed, doused with petrol, and set on fire on April 20, 2021.
The Tragic Crime and Its Aftermath
Kelly Wilkinson, a 27-year-old mother of three, was killed by her estranged husband in April 2021 after seeking help from police multiple times in the weeks leading up to her death. The brutal murder shocked the Gold Coast community and raised serious questions about how domestic violence cases are handled by authorities.
Events Leading Up to the Murder
In the weeks before her death, Kelly repeatedly contacted police about her estranged husband’s threatening behavior. She went to different police stations seeking protection, which led to an officer noting she was “cop shopping to get the outcome she wants” in internal communications.
An internal review backed officers’ decisions just a week before Kelly was killed. She had asked for help four days before she was murdered, according to testimony at the Queensland coroner’s court.
The police response included telling her to “cool off” and incorrectly logging one of her visits as a street check rather than a station visit.
Brian Earl Johnston’s Conviction and Sentencing
Brian Earl Johnston murdered Kelly at her home on the Gold Coast. Kelly was stabbed, doused with petrol, and set on fire in the attack.
Johnston was arrested and charged with her murder. The case proceeded through the Queensland court system, where evidence of his pattern of abuse and the events of that fatal day were presented.
Impact on the Family and Community
Kelly left behind three young children who lost their mother to domestic violence. The case drew widespread attention to failures in how police respond to women reporting domestic abuse.
The comment about Kelly “cop shopping” was later described as “wildly inappropriate” by Detective Inspector Paul Fletcher. The tragedy highlighted systemic issues in protecting domestic violence victims who seek help from multiple officers or stations when they don’t feel their concerns are being taken seriously.
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