Horrific details surrounding the murder of Gold Coast mum Kelly Wilkinson, who was doused in petrol and set on fire, have been revealed in court as her estranged husband is thrown behind bars for life.
Former US marine Brian Earl Johnston, 37, was handed a mandatory life sentence for the murder of his long-time partner on Wednesday.
He sat silently as family members of Ms Wilkinson, 27, spoke of their heartbreak at his monstrous actions on the morning of April 20, 2021.
Many were seen entering court wearing sunflower-themed earrings and pins as a tribute to Ms Wilkinson.
The mother-of-three suffered life-threatening burns and could not be saved by emergency services after Johnston doused her in petrol and set her on fire in the backyard of her Arundel home on April 20, 2021.
On Wednesday he was brought into court by Corrective Services officers wearing a black suit and glasses, with burn scars visible on his face.
Brian Earl Johnston, Ms Wilkinson’s estranged ex-husband, will be sentenced for her murder
The court was told Ms Wilkinson had separated from Johnston at the time of her death.
The couple were married a month after meeting in America during a whirlwind romance, but the relationship soured and Ms Wilkinson moved back to Australia.
Johnston followed her there, attempting to reconcile the relationship.
Crown prosecutor Mark McCarthy said Ms Wilkinson had told her sisters Johnston was ‘abusive and controlling’, eventually telling him to leave the family home.
A protection order was eventually taken out on behalf of Ms Wilkinson.
Mr McCarthy said Ms Wilkinson had talked with her family about her fear of Johnston, even organising a ‘code word’.
Johnston’s behaviour continued to unravel in the weeks leading up to her murder, claiming to co-workers he was feeling suicidal.
During drinks with his employer on April 18, 2021, Johnston asked him: ‘If something happens to me, will you be the one to tell everyone I am a good person?’
On the day of Ms Wilkinson’s murder, Johnston broke into her Arundel home, dousing her in petrol and setting her alight.
The couple (pictured) were married a month after meeting in America during a whirlwind romance, but the relationship soured and Ms Wilkinson moved back to Australia
The couple are seen in happier times on their wedding day
Mr McCarthy said the horrific act in the home’s backyard was witnessed by neighbours, one of whom heard the sounds of an argument and a woman screaming ‘please stop’.
The neighbour said he saw Johnston emptying the jerry can, including onto himself, before seeing flames climb a metre high.
The court was told he was seen jumping in the pool to extinguish the flames on his body.
Police later tracked a badly-burned Johnston to a nearby street with a dog squad and following a trail of blood.
‘He was lying on his back and had lacerations to both wrists, burns to his arms, hands, airways and face,’ Mr McCarthy said.
‘His clothing smelled strongly of petrol.’
Police discovered a duffel bag belonging to Johnston filled with tape, rope fashioned into a hangman’s noose, zip-ties and a bag of white powder containing an antihistamine.
He submitted Johnston planned to use the items to restrain Ms Wilkinson before taking her life, and his own.
Crown prosecutor Mark McCarthy told the court Wilkinson had talked with her family about her fear of Johnston, even organising a ‘code word’ (they are pictured arriving to court)
Multiple victim impact statements from Ms Wilkinson’s family and friends (pictured) were read out in court remembering Ms Wilkinson’s cheeky, bubbly personality
Multiple stab wounds were also discovered on Ms Wilkinson’s body.
Multiple victim impact statements from Ms Wilkinson’s family and friends were read out in court remembering Ms Wilkinson’s cheeky, bubbly personality.
The sentencing before Supreme Court Justice Peter Applegarth is continuing.
Wednesday’s act follows years of waiting for the grieving Wilkinson family as the case tracked through the magistrates court.
In February, during an arraignment at Brisbane Supreme Court, he pleaded guilty to the charge of murder – just weeks away from a scheduled trial in the same court.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14