Full Story Broken trust: how police failed Hannah Clarke and her children
Nov 16, 2025
In this gripping discussion, Kate Persina, a former senior sergeant with Queensland Police, dives into the heartbreaking case of Hannah Clarke and her children, highlighting severe police shortcomings. She reveals concerning details about police interactions with abuser Rowan Baxter and critiques their failure to log crucial disclosures from Hannah. Kate discusses how systemic cultural issues in the police force contribute to ongoing domestic violence crises and condemns the posthumous questioning of Hannah's credibility, advocating for much-needed reform.
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Boxing Day Abduction And Fatal Escalation
- On Boxing Day 2019 Rowan Baxter took his daughter from Hannah and later refused to return her, sparking police involvement and fear of escalation.
- Less than six weeks later Hannah and her three children were murdered in a petrol fire set by Baxter.
Officers Appeared To Coach The Suspect
- Body-worn camera footage shows officers coaching Baxter on how to respond to a domestic violence protection notice.
- One officer then abruptly turned off his camera, raising concerns about procedure and accountability.
Private Texts Revealed Unlogged Threats
- More than 200 pages of text messages between Hannah and a police officer were obtained from the coroner and revealed intimate disclosures not logged in police systems.
- Hannah warned she feared Rowan would kill her and described stalking, possible grooming, and strangulation threats in those messages.