Rowan Baxter has been branded a 'violent monster' by wife Hannah's family after the car fire which killed the couple and their three children.
The former rugby league player was involved in the tragic incident in Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday, in which it is alleged he doused a car in petrol before setting it alight.
Hannah Baxter passed away at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital later that evening after her husband and their children Aaliyah, six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three, had all been pronounced dead at the scene.
Rowan is alleged to have returned to the burning vehicle after he had set it on fire, before stabbing himself in the chest with a knife.
Lloyd Clarke, Hannah Clarke’s father, called his estranged son-in-law “scum” and a “monster”, as reported by The Guardian.
“He might have said he cared and loved his children but I know it was always about him coming first. The scum rots in hell.”
Hannah's parents, Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke, also declared on Thursday morning that their daughter had left Baxter in early November, after 11 years.
"She had to get the kids and just go without saying anything, because he was such a control freak and would get into her headspace and she would give in," said Mr Clarke.
Mrs Clarke added that in the last three months Baxter had 'kidnapped' one of the children for a four day period.
"He kidnapped (one of the kids) on Boxing Day and took her interstate for four days until the police got her back,' Mrs Clarke told the Daily Mail.
"He stayed with a mate who was an absolute animal and sent Hannah a disgusting email blaming her for everything."
They also added that, after a recent assault, Baxter wasn't supposed to be within 20 metres of his estranged wife, didn't see him that morning and remain uncertain how he managed to get so close.
"We still don't know how he got so close," Mr Clarke continued. "He's obviously ambushed her somehow, I'm sure she would not have stopped for him, she would be more likely to try to run over him.
"He had to hurt us because we'd beaten him. He was spiralling and had run out of people to sponge off. Looks like all of a sudden he decided there was only one way out."
Mr Clarke added: "He thought he was hard done by and wanted 50 per cent of custody and we knew that couldn't work, the guy didn't work, he couldn't support his own family. It started getting ugly."
Baxter's Facebook page, full of posts of his children and declarations of love, was labelled "a facade" by Mr Clarke.
"We always had misgivings about him. He was always controlling, he ruined her relationship with everyone, even tried to get her away from us," Mrs Clarke added.
Hannah's brother Nat Clarke wrote on social media he'd had his sister, nieces and nephew “taken from me in the worst way possible by a heartless monster they called there [sic] dad former NRL player Rowan Baxter”.
Police had been called to Raven Street in Camp Hill, at approximately 8:30am, in what is now being perceived as a suspected domestic violence case.
As reported by Australia's Daily Telegraph, witnesses claim a woman jumped from the car on fire screaming: "he's poured petrol on me."
Neighbours are said to have tried in vain to save those inside the car, with one attempting rescuer suffering burns to their face, while Rowan is said to have protested to them to stop trying to put out the fire.
Queensland MP Joe Kelly said of the horrific incident: "I think this would would rock any community.
“People are being killed by domestic violence every week in Australia and sadly it’s now our community’s turn. We have to continue to work really hard to stop people dying."
Rowan was a professional NRL player, and player for sides including the New Zealand Warriors, before setting up fitness business Integr8 with wife Hannah after his retirement.
A friend, Joey Abraham, told Daily Mail Australia: "Rowan was in a real bad place there for a bit because of the separation.
"If you knew Rowan when he at his best and to see him like last week then you know how far he'd fallen.
"He was just a shadow of the person he used to be. It's just unbelievable that he could do this.
Hannah's sister in-law Stacey Roberts said: “All she ever wanted was happiness. Her children were only a reflection of her.
"Gorgeous, happy kids who held a massive piece in my heart and I’m sure many others 'cause that’s exactly what they were like.
"We will miss them all more than anything!”
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