Men are pledging to stop violence after family burnt to death in Brisbane car fire

The number of men seeking help to stop committing domestic violence has surged after the horrific death of Hannah Clarke and her young children.

Evil father Rowan Baxter killed Hannah Clarke and their children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, when he doused them in petrol and set their car alight in Camp Hill, Brisbane t on Wednesday morning.

He died shortly after stabbing himself in the abdomen with a knife.

The shocking attack has seen more people turn to domestic violence services for help, Queensland’s Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Di Farmer says.

‘I’ve spoken with many people who work in the DFV sector and everyone has been absolutely devastated by the deaths of Hannah and her little babies,’ Ms Farmer told AAP.

Hannah Clarke (pictured with her three children, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3) is seen enjoying a day with her own grandmother (far left)

Hannah Clarke (pictured with daughters Aaliyah and Laianah) had just broken free from her abusive husband in December last year

Hannah Clarke (pictured with daughters Aaliyah and Laianah) had just broken free from her abusive husband in December last year

‘But they’ve also said that in the past few days, they’ve seen an incredible surge in calls from people asking for help – and importantly, from people asking for help to stop being violent.’

Details of the couple’s toxic split continue to emerge with revelations Rowan Baxter had been in counselling and had rejected a shared custody offer.

The offer would see him with the children several times a week, according to the ABC.

Baxter rejected his lawyer’s advice during a mediation session with Clarke and refused to sign the order that would allow him 165 days of custody per year.

A shrine at the scene where Hannah Clarke and her three kids were set alight. Brave men have come forward to seek help to stop being violent in the wake of the horrific crime

A shrine at the scene where Hannah Clarke and her three kids were set alight. Brave men have come forward to seek help to stop being violent in the wake of the horrific crime

Baxter poured petrol on his estranged wife and their children in their car then set it alight on Raven St, in Camp Hill, Brisbane. Pictured above is the horrendous scene

Baxter poured petrol on his estranged wife and their children in their car then set it alight on Raven St, in Camp Hill, Brisbane. Pictured above is the horrendous scene

Instead, Baxter signed a non-legally binding agreement that gave him just as much access to the children as their mother.

Ms Clarke’s mother Suzanne told Channel 9’s A Current Affair that her daughter first experienced psychological trauma and abuse from her estranged husband, which slowly turned physical, leaving Ms Clarke in fear for her life.

Mrs Clarke was blunt in her assessment of Baxter: ‘He was evil.’

Mrs Clarke said her daughter was ‘scared to leave’ but had been making small steps to move away in recent times.

She said her daughter only last week brought up the idea of organising a will.

Hannah Clarke and her three children were torched in their car on Wednesday morning by Rowan Baxter (all pictured together) who stabbed himself to death at the scene in Camp Hill

Hannah Clarke and her three children were torched in their car on Wednesday morning by Rowan Baxter (all pictured together) who stabbed himself to death at the scene in Camp Hill

The family claims Baxter stalked Ms Clarke through her mobile phone and knew where she was at all times.

‘She wasn’t allowed to wear bikinis, she works in the fitness industry and wasn’t allowed to wear shorts. She had to cover up,’ Mrs Clarke said.

‘In the beginning we thought he was a prude, but in hindsight we know there was more to it than that. He was controlling. It was Rowan’s way or the highway.

‘He could manipulate her. The night before he killed them he was on the phone to the children crying and she hung up or the children hung up she said to me ‘Mum I feel so bad for him’.

Hannah (left) with her mother Suzanne Clarke. Mrs Clarke said Baxter was 'evil' and controlling

Hannah (left) with her mother Suzanne Clarke. Mrs Clarke said Baxter was ‘evil’ and controlling

‘He was very good at playing the victim. We knew there was no way she could just say, ‘I’m going and walk out the door’.

‘She said, ‘What happens to my babies if he kills me?”

The Clarke family say more needs to be done to ensure victims are better protected from their abusers, and are hoping to establish a support system for women suffering at the hands of domestic violence.

On Saturday, they posted a thank you message for public support as donations for the family soared past $206,000.

‘It is the most beautiful thing to see so many people offering donations and such kind messages – It has given the family hope for change and touched their hearts to know so many care,’ said Hannah’s sister-in-law Stacey Roberts.

She said the family had been pushed into debt by Baxter’s ‘inability to support his family financially for years and to fight this monster’.

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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