A father accused of murdering his estranged wife allegedly controlled what she wore, how she styled her hair and banned her from getting a driver’s licence or a job.
Mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson had sought a police restraining order against her American husband Brian Earl Johnston, 34, before he allegedly set her on fire in he back yard of her Arundel, Gold Coast home on Tuesday morning.
Ms Wilkinson’s heartbroken family have since revealed she kept the alleged domestic violence from her loved ones for an entire decade.
Queensland Police admitted to failing Ms Wilkinson after she had visited a police station twice to complain he had breached the conditions of a protection order.
The 27-year-old’s father Reg Wilkinson and sisters Danielle Carroll, Natalie and Emma Wilkinson told the Gold Coast Bulletin the young mother endured ‘months, years of abuse.’
Kelly Wilkinson and Brian Johnston on their wedding day. He had been arrested earlier in April
Kelly Wilkinson’s father Reg Wilkinson and sisters Danielle Carroll, Natalie and Emma Wilkinson said the young mother endured ‘months, years of abuse’
They claimed Johnston dictated what clothes she wore and how she styled her hair, as well as keeping her from her friends and family, and not allowing her to drive or work – leaving her with no money.
Ms Wilkinson met Johnston online 10 years ago and shortly after travelled to the US to meet him. The pair married when she was just 18, before separating a couple of months ago.
‘She was just starting to become who she was, who she wanted to be and discover what she wanted, and what she liked, who she could be,’ Emma said.
Danielle said her sister returned to Australia five years ago to try and flee Johnston, an ex-US Marine, who followed her Down Under.
The devastated family said it wasn’t until Ms Wilkinson came home that they realised the true extent to her marriage’s problems.
‘She was such a private person and didn’t want to burden any of us with what was happening and I guess that was her fear of speaking out and people not believing,’ Natalie said.
QPS Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said the service had failed Ms Wilkinson
Forensic officers during their lengthy investigation of the Arundel property
Danielle told 7News that Ms Wilkinson’s death ‘wasn’t an accident’ and wasn’t the first time violence had occurred in their turbulent relationship.
Ms Wilkinson eventually opened up about Johnston’s alleged abuse to her mother, who died seven weeks ago.
‘We only lost mum seven weeks ago and she thought, ‘mum is the only one who knows’, and said ‘I need to speak up and say something now’,’ Natalie said.
Ms Carroll said she felt ‘complete emptiness’ walking into her late sister’s house on Wednesday night, hours after she died.
‘It’s so hard. Kelly was just so much more than this. For what we’ve been through, for what’s happened, there really just are no words,’ she said.
Mr Wilkinson’s father said his daughter’s death ‘totally preventable’.
On Thursday, Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd and Gold Coast Superintendent Rhys Wildman fronted the media to announce an internal review of the tragic case and admit that they had failed to protect Ms Wilkinson.
‘Ultimately it’s a failure,’ said Codd. ‘A woman has died. She’s been killed. Somewhere along the line she has engaged with the system, and we were unable to prevent this from occurring.’
A major aspect of the review will be why Johnston was granted police bail after he was arrested on April 11 for what were described as ‘serious crimes’ allegedly committed in February. Police bail is a decision made by a police officer rather than a magistrate.
Superintendent Wildman revealed that police had been in touch with Kelly Wilkinson after a Personal Protection Order was issued following a domestic violence incident police became aware of on March 29.
She then visited Southport police station a further two times complaining that Johnston had not abided by the terms of the order.
Codd defended the decision and said police assessed that Johnston had not breached his conditions.
‘Contact was made [by Ms Wilkinson] because of suggestions there were breaches of conditions and they were looked at and assessed and it was determined the scenario was consistent with the conditions.’
Ms Wilkinson had also been in touch with Gold Coast domestic violence agencies seeking help due to her fear of how the situation had evolved.
Kelly Wilkinson and Brian Johnstone lived for a time in his home state of Ohio, USA
Police and SES search along the street where Kelly Wilkinson and her children were living
A local Arundel resident, Louise Christie, paid her respects at the scene on Wednesday
‘I’m aware there was contact made with one of the domestic and family violence entities on the Gold Coast around April 13,’ said Assistant Commissioner Codd. ‘Engagement was made with our Gold Coast District domestic and family violence unit.
‘I can’t go into the explicit detail but it was to highlight concerns on behalf of Kelly about understanding the process about why the [alleged] offender was not in custody.’
Johnston’s lawyer, Chris Hannay, told media on Wednesday that he had met with Johnston on Sunday, less than 48 hours before he allegedly attacked and murdered Ms 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,’ Mr Hannay said.
He said Johnston did not appear distressed or agitated during the weekend conference.
‘Obviously, no one expected this to happen… everyone thought that they were just chugging along as a normal process.’
Kelly Wilkinson pictured with one of her three children during her time living the US
Tuesday’s alleged attack came seven years after the couple shared photos of their wedding, surrounded by their loved ones.
Other photos showed Mr Johnston holding one of their children next to Ms. Wilkinson during a holiday in the US, and Ms Wilkinson smiling during a trip to Niagara Falls.
Ms Wilkinson’s mother Karen, who died in February in a tragic double blow for the family, had also shared images on Facebook of her daughter and her young family visiting his native Ohio.
She and husband Reg owned the Spikes Court house in which the couple lived before the relationship breakdown.
A GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Kelly’s children had raised more than $122,000 by Thursday afternoon, more than double it’s original goal of $50,000.
Kelly Wilkinson and Brian Johnston dancing in a wedding day photo
