Kelly Wilkinson did everything she was supposed to do.
She went to police again and again, asking for help -- her estranged husband had already attacked her, and a protection order had been issued to keep him away from her. But clearly something was happening to make her feel threatened.
She was terrified, trying everything she could to protect herself and her three children.But instead of protection, Kelly was turned away by police, over and over again.
Just four days before she was murdered, Kelly went to the police one last time.
According to testimony at a coronial inquest,
she was told to "cool off" and "give [him] a break," in reference to her husband who would later murder her. Police never even recorded this final visit.
Days later, Kelly was dead.Sign the petition demanding a full investigation into every police failure that led to Kelly Wilkinson's death!The warning signs were everywhere. Kelly contacted police multiple times about domestic violence. She was officially classified as a high-risk victim. Yet police never created a safety plan for her. They never opened a referral to a specialist domestic violence liaison officer.
A police note even accused Kelly of "cop shopping to get the outcome she wants," a despicable smear of Kelly's character. The outcome Kelly wanted was for her and her children to remain safe. Police utterly failed her.
Even worse, her husband was improperly granted police bail without appearing before a magistrate, which is in direct violation of Queensland's bail laws.
This erroneous release gave him the opportunity he needed to kill Kelly.Days later, Kelly Wilkinson's husband stabbed her, soaked her with gasoline, and burned her in her own home.This tragedy was a catastrophic failure by the very system meant to protect her.
That's why we're demanding that the Crime and Corruption Commission Queensland investigate every police station Kelly went to for possible misconduct.
Queensland Police must also take responsibility. Police Commissioner Brett Pointing must work with investigators to discipline officers who failed Kelly and implement stronger policies, better training, and real accountability for how police respond to domestic violence.
Sign the petition to demand justice for Kelly Wilkinson -- and to make sure no other woman is ignored when she begs for protection.