Gruesome details surrounding the petrol-drenched and set-on-fire murder of Gold Coast mum Kelly Wilkinson have been revealed in court as her estranged husband is jailed for life.
Former US Marine Brian Earl Johnston, 37, was given a mandatory life sentence on Wednesday for the murder of his longtime partner.
He sat in silence as family members of Mrs Wilkinson, 27, spoke of their heartbreak at his monstrous actions on the morning of April 20, 2021.
Many were seen walking into court wearing sunflower-themed earrings and pins as a tribute to Mrs Wilkinson.
The mother-of-three suffered life-threatening burns and could not be saved by emergency services after Johnston doused her with petrol and set her on fire in the back garden of her home in Arundel on April 20, 2021.
On Wednesday, he was brought into court by detectives wearing a black suit and glasses, with burn scars visible on his face.
Brian Earl Johnston, Mrs Wilkinson’s estranged ex-husband, will be tried for her murder
The court was told Mrs Wilkinson was divorced from Johnston at the time of her death.
The couple married a month after meeting in America during a whirlwind romance, but relations soured and Mrs Wilkinson moved back to Australia.
Johnston followed her there in an attempt to reconcile the relationship.
Crown prosecutor Mark McCarthy said Ms Wilkinson had told her sisters Johnston was ‘abusive and controlling’ and eventually told him to leave the family home.
A protection order was eventually issued on Ms Wilkinson’s behalf.
Mr. McCarthy said Mrs Wilkinson had spoken to her family about her fears for Johnston and even organized a “code word”.
Johnston’s behavior continued to unravel in the weeks leading up to her murder, claiming to colleagues that he was feeling suicidal.
Over drinks with his employer on 18 April 2021, Johnston asked him: ‘If something happens to me, will you be the one to tell everyone I’m a good person?’
In early April 2021, Johnston was charged with four domestic violence offenses against Ms Wilkinson and was granted bail by the watchhouse.
On the day of Ms Wilkinson’s murder, Johnston broke into her home in Arundel, doused her with petrol and set her on fire.
The couple (pictured) married a month after meeting in America during a whirlwind romance, but relations soured and Mrs Wilkinson moved back to Australia
The couple are seen in happier times on their wedding day
McCarthy said the horrific act in the home’s backyard was witnessed by neighbours, one of whom heard the sound of an argument and a woman screaming “please stop”.
The neighbor said he saw Johnston empty the jerry can, including on himself, before seeing the flames rise three feet high.
The court was told he was seen jumping into the pool to put out the flames on his body.
Police later tracked a badly burned Johnston to a nearby street with a dog team, following a trail of blood.
“He was on his back and had lacerations to both wrists, burns to his arms, hands, airway and face,” McCarthy said.
“His clothes smelled strongly of gasoline.”
Police discovered a bag belonging to Johnston filled with tape, rope shaped into a hangman’s noose, zip ties and a bag of white powder containing an antihistamine.
He submitted that Johnston planned to use the items to restrain Mrs Wilkinson before taking his life and his own.
Crown prosecutor Mark McCarthy told the court Wilkinson had spoken to her family about her fears for Johnston, even organizing a ‘code word’ (they are pictured arriving in court)
Several victim impact statements from Mrs Wilkinson’s family and friends (pictured) were read out in court and recalled Mrs Wilkinson’s cheeky, bubbly personality
Several stab wounds were also discovered on Mrs Wilkinson’s body.
On 22 April 2021, two days after she was murdered, Brian Codd, Queensland Police’s assistant commissioner for domestic violence response, was asked whether Ms Wilkinson’s death had been prevented.
“Wouldn’t you love to turn back time,” he said. “It is important that we investigate the extent to which this is a systemic failure.
‘Ultimately it’s a failure. A woman is dead. Somewhere along the line she had engaged with the system, with us.’
Several victim impact statements from Ms Wilkinson’s family and friends were read in court and recalled Ms Wilkinson’s cheeky, bubbly personality.
Wednesday’s action follows years of waiting for the grieving Wilkinson family as the case is tracked through the magistrates court.
In February, he pleaded guilty to the charge of murder during a trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court – just weeks from a scheduled trial in the same court.
Johnston served two tours of duty in Iraq with the Aviation Division of the US Marine Corps – but did not see combat.
He had met Mrs Wilkinson in the US state of Ohio after his time in the military.
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