Hannah Clarke inquest: Chilling moment evil father is seen buying murder tools

Chilling footage has emerged showing Rowan Baxter shopping for the tools he used to kill his wife and their three children.

Baxter, 42, doused his estranged wife Hannah Clarke, 31, and three children Aaliyah, six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three, in petrol before setting their family car alight in Brisbane’s south in February 2020. 

Baxter died at the scene from self-inflicted knife wounds while Ms Clarke died in hospital a few hours later after suffering burns to 97 per cent of her body. 

An inquest into the killings has been shown footage of Baxter shopping for a fuel can, plastic zip ties and a container of surface cleaner two days before he murdered his family.

In the CCTV footage, Baxter can be seen walking through a Bunnings store wearing a singlet and shorts. 

He looks at different jerry cans before deciding on a 5L green plastic container.

The following morning he bought fuel from a Caltex service station, as well as lollies and three Kinder Surprises.

That night he had a video call with his children where he sobbed the entire time. 

Ms Clarke later text her friend about how she felt sorry for Baxter and shared how things could have been different, the NCA NewsWire reported.  

The inquest heard how on the day Baxter went to Bunnings to buy the murder tools Ms Clarke had successfully applied to have her name removed from the lease of the home she shared with Baxter.

He was then informed that he would be solely responsible for the rent and that the rent is in arrears. 

Baxter had to borrow $1,000 from a friend to ‘clear his debts’. 

The inquest also heard audio of Baxter complaining to a men’s support line a day just a day before the murders.

During the call he complained that Ms Clarke was dictating when he could see the children. 

‘I never thought my wife was capable of doing this … it got worse and worse and worse,’ he said during the call. 

Hannah Clarke, 31, and three children Aaliyah , six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three, died after they were doused in petrol and set alight by Baxter in February 2020 (pictured, Hannah Clarke and her two daughters Laianah and Aaliyah)

Ms Clarke (pictured) died in hospital a few hours after the attack, suffering burns to 97 per cent of her body

Ms Clarke was leaving her parents’ home in Camp Hill to take her children to school when Baxter got into the car, poured fuel inside and set it alight on February 19, 2020.

Baxter, 42, then stabbed himself with a knife, dying nearby.

Ms Clarke died later the same day in hospital.

The inquest continues.

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