On 19 February 2020, Rowan Baxter perpetrated a quadruple murder–suicide in Camp Hill, Queensland, Australia. Baxter fatally burned his 31-year-old estranged wife Hannah Clarke and their three children, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, before dying by suicide at the scene. The murders sparked a national debate about domestic violence in Australia,[1][2][3] after reports emerged that Baxter had a history of violence and alleged misogyny[4][5][6] and had been subjected to a domestic violence order (DVO) as well as child custody orders as recently as the month of the murders.
| Clarke family murders | |
|---|---|
| Location | Camp Hill, Queensland, Australia |
| Date | 19 February 2020 |
Attack type | Arson, murder–suicide |
| Weapon | Petrol |
| Deaths | 5 (including the perpetrator) |
| Victims | Hannah Clarke (31) Aaliyah Clarke (6) Laianah Clarke (4) Trey Clarke (3) |
| Perpetrator | Rowan Baxter |
| Motive | Domestic violence |
Background
editHannah Clarke (formerly Baxter; 8 September 1988 – 19 February 2020) met New Zealand-born Rowan Baxter in 2008, eleven years her senior, when she was aged 19.[7] Baxter, a former rugby league player who trialled with the New Zealand Warriors,[8] was previously married to another woman. He proposed to Clarke in 2011 and they married in Kingscliff, New South Wales, in 2012. They had three children: Aaliyah, 6; Laianah, 4; and Trey, 3. Reports emerged after the murders that Clarke had allegedly been emotionally, physically, sexually and financially abused by Baxter during their marriage.[9]
Baxter was subjected to a DVO after he allegedly kidnapped Laianah on Boxing Day 2019.[10] He had rejected his lawyer's advice in mediation and refused to sign a consent order offered by Clarke allowing him 165 days of custody a year. The DVO was varied in the Holland Park Magistrates' Court in January 2020, returning Baxter's full access to his children. The couple then went to mediation, with Baxter refusing to sign the consent order which would lock in custody of the children. He subsequently signed a parenting agreement that gave him the same level of access but was not legally binding. This access was revoked in early February when police charged him with breaching the DVO.[10] Although it is unclear when she began to do so, Clarke legally used her maiden name rather than her married name.[11]
Attack
editOn 19 February 2020, Clarke was driving their children to drop them at school when Baxter doused the interior of the car with petrol and set it alight. Clarke was pulled burning out of the car by bystanders and told them that Baxter had poured petrol on her.[12] While the car was burning with the three children inside, Baxter stopped bystanders from putting out the fire before he stabbed himself to death.[13][14] Clarke was rushed to the Royal Brisbane Hospital with burns to 97% of her body, but died there that evening.[15]
Funeral
editClarke and her children were buried on 9 March 2020. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk attended their joint funeral.[16]
Legacy
editIn March, Clarke's family established the foundation 'Small Steps 4 Hannah' in honour of the slain children.[17] The charity states its establishment is to "put a HALT to the incidences and severity of domestic and family violence in Australia".[18]
On 23 February, over 1,000 people gathered to celebrate and mourn the family in a public vigil held at the Bill Hewitt Reserve in Camp Hill.[19] A small section of the same reserve was later memorialised as 'Hannah's Place' with a sign, shelter and newly planted trees. On 8 September 2020, 'Hannah's Place' was opened by Coorparoo Councillor, Cr Fiona Cunningham along with Clarke's family, on what would have been Hannah's 32nd birthday.[20]
Clarke was named one of Marie Claire magazine's 'Women of the Year' in their December 2020 issue, for the nationwide awareness brought to the issue of coercive control in Australia.[21]
See also
edit- Abusive power and control
- Domestic violence in Australia
- Familicide
- Psychological abuse
- Powell family murders - a similar mass murder-suicide in the United States
References
edit- ^ "I survived my abuser. But Hannah Clarke's murder is a reminder that many women aren't so lucky". ABC Australia. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "Murder of Hannah Clarke and kids prompts 'incredible surge' in men seeking to stop domestic violence". SBS. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ Buiten, Denise (25 February 2020). "Why do men kill their families? Here's what the research says". The Conversation. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "'We are a nation in pain': Tears and anger at Brisbane vigil for Hannah Clarke and her three children". SBS. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ Brown, Lee (23 February 2020). "Killer dad Rowan Baxter who torched wife, 3 kids, was misogynist cheater". New York Post. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "Killer Rowan Baxter 'hated women', cousin says". Yahoo Australia. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ McPhee, Sarah (25 February 2020). "'Perpetrator of violence': Man who pledged to love wife killed her and three kids after they fled". news.com.au.
- ^ "Wife dies hours after her children were killed in car inferno lit by league player father". Fox. 19 February 2020.
- ^ Wuth, Robyn (21 February 2020). "Friend of Hannah Clarke said she was emotionally, financially and sexually abused by estranged husband Rowan Baxter for more than 10 years". Perth Now. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ a b Robertson, Josh (22 February 2020). "Rowan Baxter 'couldn't move past the relationship' with Hannah Clarke despite shared custody arrangement, a source reveals". ABC Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ Crockford, Toby; Lynch, Lydia; McElroy, Nicholas; Wuth, Robyn (20 February 2020). "Hannah was 'excited' for 2020 with her kids. They only got 50 days". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
Clarification: This story previously named the children's mother as Hannah Baxter. The Queensland Police Service has since informed media she had legally been using her maiden name 'Clarke' and no longer used her married name of Baxter.
- ^ "Hannah Baxter dies in hospital after three children killed in suspected murder-suicide in Brisbane's Camp Hill, father Rowan Baxter dies at scene". ABC Australia. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ Foster, Ally (21 February 2020). "Witnesses describe 'awful' scene as father kills family before taking his own life in Brisbane car fire". News.com.au. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ McGowan, Michael (20 February 2020). "Brisbane car fire: Hannah Baxter dies of injuries, three children killed in suspected family violence case". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "Mourners hear of Hannah Clarke's lost dreams at Camp Hill vigil". The Australian. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ Riga, Rachel (9 March 2020). "Hannah Clarke and her children remembered as hundreds attend funeral service in Brisbane". ABC News. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ "Small Steps 4 Hannah". LMCT Brisbane. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ "Small Steps 4 Hannah". www.smallsteps4hannah.com.au. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ Hartley, Anna; Hamilton-Smith, Lexy; staff (23 February 2020). "Hannah Clarke's family thank crowd at public vigil who 'restored our faith that there are good people in this world'". ABC News. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ Stone, Lucy (12 August 2020). "Park section now a permanent memorial to Hannah Clarke and her children". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ "Domestic Violence Victim Hannah Clarke Honoured in Marie Claire's Women of the Year For Her Bravery". Marie Claire. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.