Nothing could have saved Hannah Clarke and her children from her jealous, controlling, manipulative estranged husband — this is the bleak assessment that was made this week in the inquest into the family's horrific deaths.
WARNING: This story contains content that readers may find distressing.
But those who are trying to help women at risk argue the tragic consequences of domestic violence should never be "inevitable", and recommendations which were made during the coronial inquiry are more crucial than ever.
At the end of a nine-day hearing that wrapped up on Thursday, lawyers put forward a raft of suggestions to the coroner about what more could be done to try and prevent anything similar from happening.
There was a heavy focus on additional specialised training and resources for police, and improved communication and information sharing by support services, particularly about non-lethal strangulation.
All of these will be considered by Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley, along with the evidence heard throughout the hearing, before she delivers her findings by the end of June.
Police urged to change language
Lawyer Julie Sarkozi from the Women's Legal Service said these findings will be a "powerful tool for change" and believed the recommendation for learning programs for officers needed to be prioritised.
She said in particular the need for police to ask the "right questions", which are more open-ended, was critical as it will help better assess whether a woman was experiencing coercive control – a form of domestic violence Ms Clarke was experiencing.
"Whereas if you ask: 'what things do you do to stop him from being angry?' or 'how frightened are you?', then the police and other service providers are more likely to get a more accurate picture of the dynamics of the relationship."
Ms Sarkozi said she would like to see a recommendation about community education and awareness programs that are specific to identifying the signs of coercive control.
"This would have a profound impact on victims being able to act self-protectively, more effectively and sooner," she said.
"As a community, we can get more skilful at providing and supporting opportunities for women and children to be safe."
She said it was also hoped changes to the Family Law Act would also be considered when it comes to parenting arrangements.
This was another issue highlighted during the inquest, after revelations one of Ms Clarke's children was "forcefully abducted" off the street, but her estranged husband could not be charged.
'Same recommendations we've been hearing since 2015'
Ms Sarkozi said the inquest was seen as a "vindication" of the recommendations which were made by the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce, and that Queensland already had the "blueprint for change" from their recent report.
However, at the beginning of the inquest into Ms Clarke's murder, the court heard the purpose of the inquiry was not to probe that report, or any other, but that there could be overlaps when it comes to recommendations.
The state opposition has demanded more be done right now.
On Friday, Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Amanda Camm said there was no reason for the government to wait for the coroner to make her findings.
"Some of the recommendations that will come out of this investigation and the evidence that we have heard are the same recommendations that we have been hearing since 2015," she said.
"The government has had time to act."
Ms Camm admitted even if they had been implemented, it may not have changed the outcome for Ms Clarke, but said "where we can try, we must".
"We owe it to women in high-risk situations right now, to ensure we do close those gaps."
