Best friend of murdered mother Hannah Baxter shares open letter ahead of funeral

09/03/2020
Lana Andelane

The best friend of Hannah Clarke has shared a heartbreaking letter in memory of the murdered mother and her three children.

The 31-year-old and her children, Laianah, four, Aaliyah, six and Trey, three, were killed by Clarke's estranged husband Rowan Baxter, 42, when he doused the family's car in petrol and set it alight in Camp Hill, Brisbane, on February 19.

The children died in the vehicle while Clarke succumbed to her burns in Royal Brisbane Hospital later that day. Baxter died by suicide at the scene.

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Now, Nikki Brooks has penned a poignant open letter to her best friend ahead of the family's funeral on Monday.

The letter, published by Now To Love, begins: "I can scarcely believe it's been just a few weeks since you so tragically left us, the splitting of our hearts deafeningly loud, and the ache of your absence is so heavy it's hard to bear.

"How could this world keep turning without you and our little angels?

"You always made me laugh even when I knew deep down you were hurting more than any of us could imagine. Over the years we sure made some mischief, but we always had each other's backs."

She apologised to Clarke for not being able to protect her from the violence that plagued her seven-year marriage.

"You carried the weight of the world on your shoulders, and we all wish now we could've lightened your load. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. That light will shine forever in the next place you go. I'll never forget you my brilliant friend."

Baxter and his three children with wife Hannah. Photo credit: Facebook

It was revealed that police had attended Clarke's home in January after Baxter breached a domestic violence order against him, the 42-year-old reportedly losing custody of his children shortly after. It's believed the couple separated in late 2019.

The murder-suicide has sparked calls for tougher laws against perpetrators of domestic violence. Hundreds of protesters rallied outside Brisbane's Parliament House last week, campaigning for greater protection of victims of abuse.

In an interview with The Australian last month, Brooks revealed that Baxter had allegedly made plans to murder family members before.

She alleged that Baxter had previously plotted to kill his oldest, surviving son Isaiah, now 22, and his mother, Baxter's ex-partner.

"He'd driven to do it. He'd prepared what he needed to kill Isaiah and [Isaiah's mother] and then didn't do it... Isaiah would have been maybe seven or eight," Brooks told the outlet.

"I knew he had it in him. I just thought, hopefully, any person would be able to pull themselves back."

Baxter's relative Alana Hampson spoke exclusively to Newshub about his turbulent childhood.

"He was very controlling and manipulative," she said. "He was a monster, even when he was a kid, I think he was a monster."