Australian Magazine

Domestic and family violence has taken too many lives in Australia, but some cases become powerful turning points for law reform, policing and public awareness. The story of Kelly Wilkinson, a Gold Coast mother of three who was murdered by her estranged husband in April 2021, is one of those moments.

Her death exposed deep failures in systems meant to keep women and children safe. It helped fuel changes to Queensland’s domestic violence laws, added urgency to work on coercive control, and inspired the creation of the Kelly Wilkinson Foundation, which supports children left behind after domestic violence homicides.

This article looks at who Kelly Wilkinson was, what happened in the months before her murder, how the courts dealt with her killer, and the legacy that continues through law reform and community advocacy.

Who Was Kelly Wilkinson?

Before Kelly Wilkinson became a headline, she was a daughter, sister, and devoted mum. Friends and family describe her as gentle, patient and deeply attached to her three young children. One relative told the media she “loved her kids more than anything” and worked hard to hold life together for them despite the turmoil at home.

Kelly lived in Arundel on Queensland’s Gold Coast. She had married US-born former marine Brian Earl Johnston years earlier, but by 2021 the relationship had broken down. The couple separated and Kelly became the primary carer of the children. Johnston’s behaviour during and after the separation would later be described in court as jealous, controlling and obsessive.

Those who knew Kelly Wilkinson have spoken of her quiet strength. Her sister Danielle has recalled that Kelly tried to “do everything right” – seeking help from police, applying for protection and confiding in loved ones when she feared for her life.

The Relationship Between Kelly Wilkinson & Brian Earl Johnston

The relationship between Kelly Wilkinson and Brian Earl Johnston follows a pattern that many domestic violence workers recognise. Evidence later presented to the court and in media reports described Johnston’s escalating violence, controlling behaviour and threats in the months leading up to the murder.

Police and court documents show:

• Johnston was subject to a domestic violence order (DVO).
• He was on bail over charges including alleged sexual assault against Kelly.
• Kelly reported physical, emotional and sexual abuse, as well as threats to her safety.
  

At times Johnston appeared to comply with orders; at others, he allegedly breached them and continued to intimidate Kelly. Domestic violence experts have since pointed out that this pattern—appearing remorseful in public while remaining abusive in private—is a common feature of coercive control.

Kelly Wilkinson’s Repeated Pleas for Help

One of the most confronting aspects of the Kelly Wilkinson case is how often she tried to seek help from authorities. Reporting by Guardian Australia and other outlets has revealed that in the days and weeks before her murder, Kelly attended multiple police stations, telling officers she was in danger.

According to police notes later disclosed in court and discussed in the media, some officers labelled her behaviour “cop shopping” – as if she was shopping around for a more favourable response. In reality, she was desperately trying to find someone who would act on her reports.

Her family has said she was increasingly fearful. Her sister Danielle recalled Kelly telling her she had been repeatedly raped by Johnston and that she wanted “someone to know” in case anything happened to her.

For many Australians, this raised an uncomfortable question: how can a woman report serious abuse again and again – including alleged sexual violence and threats – and still be left so vulnerable?

The Murder of Kelly Wilkinson

On 20 April 2021, the situation reached its horrific conclusion.

That morning, Johnston went to Kelly Wilkinson’s home in Arundel, where she lived with their three children. Court documents later revealed that he attacked her in the backyard, stabbing her multiple times, dousing her with fuel and setting her alight.

Neighbours heard screams and saw smoke. Emergency services arrived to find Kelly’s badly burned body near a clothesline. Johnston was found nearby with serious burns and was taken to hospital under police guard.

He was charged with murder, breaching a DVO and other offences. Media coverage described the killing as “horrific” and “senseless”, with one article noting that Kelly had done everything asked of her by the system, yet it still failed to keep her safe.

The murder of Kelly Wilkinson took place not long after the high-profile domestic violence killing of Hannah Clarke and her three children, who were set alight in their car by her estranged husband in 2020. Together, these cases helped push coercive control and fire-setting violence to the centre of Queensland’s policy agenda.

The Criminal Case & Sentencing of Brian Earl Johnston

For nearly three years after killing Kelly Wilkinson, Brian Earl Johnston maintained a plea of not guilty to murder. In February 2024, just weeks before his scheduled trial, he changed his plea and admitted the offence.

In March 2024, the Supreme Court in Brisbane sentenced Johnston to life in prison. Under Queensland law, a mandatory life sentence for murder carries a minimum non-parole period of 20 years, meaning Johnston must serve at least two decades behind bars before he can apply for release.

During sentencing, the court heard evidence about:

• The extent of Kelly’s injuries and the brutal nature of the attack.
• Johnston’s history of violence and breaches of orders.
• The profound impact on her children and family.
  

Justice Martin Burns described the crime as “a most serious example of murder”, noting that Johnston had “extinguished the life of a young woman who had every right to feel safe in her own home”.

For Kelly’s family, the sentence brought some sense of justice but could never repair what had been lost.

The Inquest into Kelly Wilkinson’s Death & Police Response

The criminal case did not answer a crucial question: how did the system allow Kelly Wilkinson to be killed despite her repeated pleas for help?

In 2025, the Queensland Coroners Court confirmed that a full inquest into Kelly’s death would be held. The inquest is tasked with examining:

• How police and other agencies responded to Kelly’s domestic violence complaints.
• Whether policies and procedures were followed.
• What risk assessments were done and how they were documented.
• Whether opportunities to intervene were missed.
• Recommendations to prevent similar tragedies.
  

Pre-inquest conferences have already heard harrowing details. Evidence outlined how Kelly visited multiple police stations, how some officers allegedly criticised her for “cop shopping”, and how she was left feeling ignored.

Kelly’s family hopes the inquest will lead to stronger accountability and better training for police. Her sister has said they want “real change” so that other women are not turned away or dismissed when they say they are in danger.

How Kelly Wilkinson’s Case Influenced Law Reform

The killing of Kelly Wilkinson came at a time when Queensland was already re-examining its response to domestic and family violence, following the deaths of Hannah Clarke and others.

In 2021, the state government set up the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce to explore how to better recognise and respond to coercive control – a pattern of behaviour that can include emotional, financial and psychological abuse, as well as threats and stalking.

The taskforce, later supported by widespread advocacy, recommended a stand-alone criminal offence of coercive control. In 2024, the Queensland parliament passed laws to criminalise coercive control, with penalties of up to 14 years’ imprisonment. These laws, often referred to as “Hannah’s Law”, came into effect in 2025.

While the legislation is named after Hannah Clarke, politicians and advocates have consistently pointed to Kelly Wilkinson as another example of why change was essential. Her case highlighted how repeated non-physical abuse, breaches of orders and lethal threats can escalate to murder, especially when agencies fail to connect the dots.

Law reform has also focused on:

• Improving training for police on coercive control, strangulation and fire-setting threats.
• Strengthening domestic violence orders and bail conditions.
• Enhancing information-sharing between agencies.
  

These reforms are still being implemented and evaluated, but the Kelly Wilkinson case remains a powerful reference point in parliamentary debates, media commentary and professional training.

The Kelly Wilkinson Foundation-Turning Grief into Support

In the wake of Kelly’s murder, her family and the Gold Coast community rallied to support her children and other families affected by domestic violence.

Kelly’s sister, Danielle Carroll, helped organise an “army of volunteers” to build a new home for Kelly’s three children, led by local tradespeople and supporters who donated labour and materials. A television special later showed the house being completed by community members who wanted the kids to have a secure place to grow up.

In 2022, Danielle founded the Kelly Wilkinson Foundation, a charity that offers financial and practical support to children and families left behind after domestic violence homicides. The foundation describes itself as a “maternal wrap-around service”, providing both short- and long-term assistance to help children stay connected to education, counselling and stable housing.

The foundation’s work includes:

• Emergency grants to help carers cover immediate costs after a homicide.
• Longer-term support for education, therapy and everyday expenses.
• Advocacy for better recognition of so-called “secondary victims” – children, siblings and parents of those killed.
  

Danielle has said she created the foundation because “no family should have to go through what we did, and no child should be left without the support they need”.

Today, the Kelly Wilkinson name is linked not only with tragedy but also with tangible assistance for families rebuilding after unthinkable violence.

Media Coverage & Public Conversation Around Kelly Wilkinson

Media reporting on Kelly Wilkinson has played a major role in shaping public understanding of domestic violence in Australia.

Coverage from outlets such as ABC News, Guardian Australia, Women’s Agenda, 9News and the Gold Coast Bulletin has documented:

• Kelly’s efforts to seek help and the alleged failures in police responses.
• The facts of the murder and subsequent court proceedings.
• The impact on her family and children.
• The creation of the Kelly Wilkinson Foundation.
• Links between her case and broader debates on coercive control and domestic violence law reform.
  

Some commentators have questioned whether enough has changed since Kelly’s death, especially given ongoing reports of domestic violence homicides and fire-setting attacks in Queensland and across Australia. Recent reviews by the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board show an alarming rise in DV-related homicides and highlight fire-setting as a recurring tactic, citing both the Hannah Clarke and Kelly Wilkinson cases.

Advocates say media coverage must balance respect for victims with clear reporting of systemic failures. Many family members, including Kelly’s, have chosen to speak publicly to keep attention on needed reforms.

Domestic Violence in Queensland & Across Australia

The story of Kelly Wilkinson sits within a broader pattern of domestic and family violence across Queensland and Australia. National and state reports have repeatedly found that:

• Women are far more likely than men to be killed by a current or former partner.
• Coercive control and non-physical abuse are strong predictors of lethal violence.
• Many victims make multiple disclosures to police or support services before a homicide occurs.
• Responses can be inconsistent, with some officers and agencies missing signs of escalating risk.
  

In Queensland, recent reforms – including coercive control laws and expanded police powers to issue protection notices – aim to address these failures. Yet domestic violence workers say law reform alone is not enough. They point to the need for:

• Sustainable funding for frontline services, refuges and legal support.
• Culturally safe services for First Nations women, migrant women and others facing additional barriers.
• Community education about healthy relationships, early warning signs and how to safely intervene.
  

For many advocates, the Kelly Wilkinson case underscores the importance of listening to women when they say they are afraid, and of taking every threat – including threats involving fire or weapons – extremely seriously.

Lessons from the Kelly Wilkinson Case for Police & Courts

When Australians talk about what must change after the murder of Kelly Wilkinson, several key lessons come up repeatedly:

1. Take Every Report Seriously

Kelly’s visits to multiple police stations were a clear sign of escalating fear. Labelling this behaviour as “cop shopping” ignored the reality that she was trying to find help wherever she could. Police and courts must recognise that repeated reporting is a red flag, not an inconvenience.

2. Recognise Coercive Control & Escalation

The pattern of controlling behaviour, threats, alleged sexual violence and breaches of orders in the Kelly Wilkinson case fits a well-documented model of coercive control. Recognising this pattern early – and treating it as serious as physical assaults – is vital.

3. Link Bail, Protection Orders & Risk

Johnston was on bail and subject to a DVO at the time of the murder. Advocates argue that bail decisions must better account for the cumulative risk posed by repeated breaches and escalating threats, particularly when children are present in the home.

4. Support Children After Homicide

The Kelly Wilkinson case highlighted the long-term needs of children whose parent has been killed by another parent or partner. Organisations like the Kelly Wilkinson Foundation are filling a vital gap, but advocates say governments must build permanent support schemes for these children.

Remembering Kelly Wilkinson & Supporting Change

More than three years after her death, Kelly Wilkinson continues to be remembered in vigils, fundraising events and parliamentary speeches. On what would have been her 32nd birthday, a local MP wrote that the foundation created in her name had already helped dozens of children who had “gone through the unimaginable”.

Her family’s advocacy, combined with broader campaigns led by survivors and other bereaved families, keeps pressure on governments to deliver real change. Domestic violence advocates often stress that these reforms are being built on the courage of women who spoke up and, in too many cases, were not heard in time.

When we say the name Kelly Wilkinson, we are not only talking about a tragic crime. We are acknowledging:

• A young Gold Coast mum who did everything she could to protect herself and her children.
• A family and community who turned grief into practical support for others.
• A set of systemic failures that must be confronted honestly.
• A catalyst for reform in how Australia understands and responds to domestic violence.
  

If You or Someone You Know Needs Help

While this article focuses on Kelly Wilkinson, the issues it raises are sadly ongoing. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence in Australia, support is available:

• 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) – 24/7 national sexual, domestic and family violence counselling service.
• Lifeline (13 11 14) – 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention.
• Local women’s refuges, legal services and community organisations in your state or territory.
  

In an emergency, always call 000.

Talking about cases like Kelly Wilkinson can be distressing, but keeping her story in the public eye helps drive the cultural and legal change needed so that other women and children can live free from violence.

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