The System That Failed Hannah Clarke

It was a summer morning in Camp Hill, an eastern suburb of Brisbane, when 31 year old Hannah Clarke helped her three children, six year old Aaliyah, four year old Laianah, and three year old Trey, get ready for the day ahead.  It was Wednesday, February 19, 2020, and the morning was characteristically chaotic.  Hannah was staying with her parents, following the breakdown of her relationship with Rowan Baxter, a man who had become increasingly abusive.  As Hannah buckled her three small children into the car, Baxter emerged, having been watching her nearby. He forced her into the driver’s seat, and slipped himself into the passenger seat, holding a knife to her throat and telling her to drive.  Within minutes, their three children would be dead. Hannah would sustain injuries so horrific, she would later die in hospital.  The story of Hannah Clarke and her three children sent shock waves across the country, as we learned this was a woman who had a domestic violence order out against her former partner.  The murder of four people was an endpoint in a reign of terror Baxter had subjected his family to for years. And an inquest, which finished only last week, shined a spotlight on the events leading up to that day, in February 2020. CREDITS Guest: Kate Kyriacou Host: Jessie Stephens Executive Producer: Gia Moylan Audio Producers: Rhiannon Mooney CONTACT US Tell us what you think of the show via email at [email protected]   Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/tcc-group  If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Just by reading or listening to our content, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and our aim is to get to 1,000. Find out more about Mamamia at mamamia.com.au Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.