Father who broke AVO 21 times before being sent to jail reveals why system failed Hannah Clarke

A man who broke apprehended violence order to stop him contacting his ex-wife and daughter 21 times says the system designed to stop domestic violence is broken.

Chris, last name withheld, appeared on Triple M Sydney’s Moonman In The Morning on Monday to discuss the Brisbane murder-suicide tragedy.

Chris said he was devastated by news that Rowan Charles Baxter, 42, had fatally set his three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, and estranged partner Hannah Clarke, 31, on fire. 

Baxter had reportedly hatched his plan after his estranged wife took out a restraining order against him.

Hannah Clarke and her three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, were murdered by her estranged husband Rowan Charles Baxter

‘I broke the AVO 21 times but the thing I want to talk to you about is the piece of paper that the actual AVO is written on, I’m sorry to say, but it isn’t worth anything,’ he told hosts Lawrence Mooney and Jess Eva.

‘It doesn’t actually stop you from getting in the car or whatever it is and going to that person’s house and doing something.’

He said he had done some ‘really silly’ things such as intimidate his former partner.

‘Men around Australia and the world need to really look at what is going on, and we as other men have to help these guys,’ he said. 

Chris said he was jailed after breaking the AVO repeatedly, including sending letters to his daughter.

He said his legal team helped him beat a few breaches before being imprisoned.

‘They’d had a gutful, the police put me through the court and the judge said to me “Chris what you’ve done this is not right, I’m basically going to give you something to think about” and that was six months in jail,’ he said.

Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke, parents to Hannah, mourned her on Sunday at a vigil

Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke, parents to Hannah, mourned her on Sunday at a vigil

Chris said there were moments he was afraid he would hurt his ex-wife and partner – but insisted those dark thoughts were never enacted.

‘Mine was more to get back at her, I was never going to psychically harm her and go to that extent. There’s certainly some crazy stuff that goes through your mind,’ he said.

Chris said he sought help through support services to help deal with his vengeance plans.

He said his ex-wife opted for the jail option to get him out of her life and return to normalcy.

But he insisted prison is not right for everyone in that situation. 

Hannah Clarke pictured with her 'main man', son Trey in a beach snap

Rowan Baxter and Hannah Clarke (pictured) are seen on their wedding day

Left: Hannah Clarke pictured with her ‘main man’, son Trey in a beach snap. Right: The couple on their wedding day

Hundreds turned out at a vigil for Ms Clarke and her children - however a man has claimed AVOs do little to protect people

Hundreds turned out at a vigil for Ms Clarke and her children – however a man has claimed AVOs do little to protect people

‘Going to jail is not the right thing, they vent, they think of crazy ways to get back at the person, and you can actually see some worse off,’ he said.

‘It would be better to have a rehabilitation place where they can put these people and they can be looked after but they’re not able to get out until they are assessed, or something along those lines.’ 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Police for comment. 

Baxter killed his wife and their three children by setting their family car alight in Camp Hill, Brisbane. He stabbed himself beside the car

Baxter killed his wife and their three children by setting their family car alight in Camp Hill, Brisbane. He stabbed himself beside the car

Hannah survived the attack but succumbed to her injuries hours later. 

It has since emerged that he subject Hannah to years of domestic violence, prompting the brave mum to finally leave him last November.

There was a domestic violence order (DVO) in place, but she expressed frustration that the conditions wouldn’t be enough to keep her family safe.

Despite being stalked every day by her monstrous ex, the DVO was watered down to allow her husband to be a close as 100 metres from her.

In a text to friends sent on January 30 (pictured), Hannah expressed concerns about changes to the domestic violence protection order out on her estranged husband

In a text to friends sent on January 30 (pictured), Hannah expressed concerns about changes to the domestic violence protection order out on her estranged husband

What to do if you’re at risk of domestic violence

There are a number of services across Australia you can contact for help.  

  • The National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732, available 24/7
  • Call 000 if you’re in immediate danger
  • Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277 
  •  Lifeline: 13 11 11

Just days later, Baxter approached the family car as his wife prepared to make the school run, poured petrol on her and the children and set them alight.

He then stabbed himself to death beside the car. 

‘I have to go back to court and had to drop off an application today to get the DVO conditions changed as he keeps turning up where I am,’ the mother-of-three said in text message to a friend, sent on January 30.

‘He got the DVO adjourned and when they did that they took off the no contact and made it just 100m from my home so technically he’s not doing anything wrong … hence why we need it changed!’

Even the female police officer who helped Hannah lodge her DVO last year told her it would do little to protect her from her evil husband.

BRISBANE MURDER-SUICIDE: HOW COWARDLY RAMPAGE UNFOLDED

JANUARY, 2020

Queensland Police officers are called to a family violence incident that allegedly involved the couple.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19 – EARLY MORNING:

Rowan Charles Baxter, 42, is spotted filling a jerry can with fuel at a local service station. 

8.20AM:   

Baxter dives into his estranged wife Hannah Clarke’s white Kia Sportage as she was preparing to do the school drop off on Raven Street, Camp Hill, a wealthy suburb of Brisbane.

He douses Ms Clarke, 31, and their three children – Aaliyah, six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three – in petrol and sets the car alight. 

Neighbours hear an explosion which sounded like a ‘gas bottle’ blast. At least four explosions followed. 

Baxter grabs a knife from the SUV and stabs himself in the chest.

He tries to stop neighbours from saving his wife and children before dying in the street.

Ms Clarke escapes the burning car and screams: ‘He’s poured petrol on me.’ 

Horrified witnesses see her skin peeling off her body.

One heroic neighbour hoses her down in an attempt to save her life and suffers burns himself. 

She is rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a critical condition.   

WEDNESDAY NIGHT:

Ms Clarke dies in hospital from the horrendous burns she suffered in the quadruple murder suicide.

 

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