Devastating aftermath

Hannah died in hospital later that afternoon, at 5:30 pm.

When firefighters finally extinguished the blaze more than an hour after the attack, Aaliyah, Laianah, and Trey’s remains were discovered in the back seat.

The inquest concluded that “they had sustained injuries that were clearly incompatible with life” and that “they had been burnt so badly that they could not be visually identified.”

Rowan also died at the scene, despite extraordinary efforts by emergency workers. Police determined his actions were “premeditated and the result of his inability to accept his loss of control over Hannah.”

It’s no surprise that this horrific case shook Australia to its core. Hannah Clarke and her children were laid to rest on March 9, 2020, in a joint funeral attended by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Clarke’s family established the foundation Small Steps 4 Hannah in memory of the slain children. The charity’s mission is to “put a HALT to the incidences and severity of domestic and family violence in Australia.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.