The family of murdered Gold Coast woman Kelly Wilkinson, whose charred body was found in her backyard last week, has remembered her as a "strong fierce woman" who thought that being a mother was the best job in the world.
Key points:
- Ms Wilkinson's estranged husband has been charged with murder and breaching a court order
- Kelly's sister Natalie said she was beyond angry and called for laws to change
- A GoFundMe page has raised more than $209,000 for Ms Wilkinson's three children
Hundreds of mourners gathered for a candlelit vigil to honour the 27-year-old mother-of-three on the Gold Coast on Monday evening.
An emotional local State Member of Parliament Sam O'Connor, who helped organise the vigil, read a statement on behalf of the family, describing Ms Wilkinson as someone who would help others regardless of events in her own life.
ABC News: Steve Keen
)"The third of four girls, Kelly stood out as a protector and one who was never afraid to push boundaries. The kind of woman who went from riding motorbikes on cliffs to wearing dresses and flaunting her favourite jewellery.
"She made everyone fall in love with her antics."
Ms Wilkinson's devotion to her children was at the forefront of the family's recollections.
ABC News: Steve Keen
)"She always said being a mother was the best job in the world and she loved nothing more than watching the kids play," Mr O'Connor read from the statement.
"They enjoyed crafting together, playing games and spending time with extended family."
The statement recalled her resilience as a young girl.
AAP: Dave Hunt
)"Her family will always remember a young girl who could best the toughest of boys, who would walk away with broken bones as if they were scratches," he said.
"Kelly was one of a kind and there are no words that can describe how much she is missed and the hole she has left within our lives".
Kelly's sister Natalie sank to her knees crying and staring at the sky when her sister's favourite song was played during the service.
Earlier she told a reporter she was beyond angry and called for laws to change.
"I don't know if angry is a word, I would use, disappointed, lost, infuriated that something like this could happen to my sister who reached out for help,'' she said.
"The change doesn't start with police. It starts right at the beginning, at the top, that's where the law has to change."
ABC News: Steve Keen
)Rosie O'Malley, CEO of the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre, addressed the mourners, reminding them about the importance of being alert to someone who was experiencing abuse or violence.
Earlier she told media that Ms Wilkinson had been known to her organisation and had "actively been seeking help from a number of organisations and seeking responses to improve her safety over the last month".
ABC News: Steve Keen
)Among the local families who attended the vigil were members of the Brisbane Broncos.
Bronco's player Jake Turpin told media they were attending because "the boys thought it was important they show their support for Kelly's family".
Speaking first at the vigil, Shane Scott, the chaplain from Arundel State School, where Ms Wilkinson's children were pupils, told mourners it was important not to let this tragedy "define Kelly or what she will be remembered for even though this will hopefully be a catalyst for change".
Estranged husband charged
Police found Ms Wilkinson's body at her Arundel property last Tuesday morning, after neighbours reported hearing a disturbance and seeing flames.
According to court documents, a trail of blood led officers to another property two blocks away.
There, they found Ms Wilkinson's estranged husband, Brian Earl Johnston, 34, who was later charged with murder and breaching a court order.
Supplied: Facebook
)A police search of the Arundel property found a melted red jerry can, three knives, a rope, duct tape and other items, according to the court documents.
Queensland Assistant Police Commissioner Brian Codd said Ms Wilkinson had previously contacted police to report "domestic violence and family issues," though he was unable to say how many times she asked for help.
The Queensland Police Service is conducting an internal review to examine any potential failings in its interactions with Ms Wilkinson.
"We're certainly going to make sure we look to improve … and correct any parts of the system that we control," Assistant Commissioner Codd said last week.
Last year, Queensland Police attended 107,000 domestic violence-related incidents, many on the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence director Di Macleod said women were reporting more extreme acts of violence.
"I've been here for 30 years as the founder of this service and what we are seeing is an increase in the intensity of the violence that women are experiencing," Ms Macleod said.
She said the service had to employ additional staff to meet demand for individual counselling.
Advocates say more support and protection needs to be offered to women who are experiencing family violence.
A GoFundMe page set up in the hours after Ms Wilkinson's death has so far raised more than $209,000 for her three children.
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2021-04-26 08:35:23Z
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