A groundbreaking two-year investigation has uncovered disturbing new evidence about police handling of the Hannah Clarke domestic violence case, revealing serious failings that were previously overlooked by official inquiries.
Exclusive Evidence Emerges in Tragic Case
Ben Smee, Guardian Australia's Queensland correspondent, has been investigating the national domestic and family violence crisis for years, along with examining the culture within the Queensland police force. His work forms the basis of the special Full Story podcast investigation titled Broken Trust.
The investigation presents exclusive new evidence in the case of Hannah Clarke and her three children, whose tragic deaths in a domestic violence homicide shocked the nation. The murders occurred in February 2020 when Hannah's estranged husband set their car alight during the school run.
Systemic Police Failings Revealed
The Broken Trust series has identified serious police failings in the lead-up to the murders that were not properly investigated by homicide detectives and were overlooked during the coronial inquest. These revelations raise significant questions about how Queensland police handle domestic violence cases.
Ben Smee's extensive reporting suggests there were multiple opportunities for intervention that were missed by authorities. The investigation examines the attitudes and culture within the police service that may have contributed to these failures.
National Crisis Demands Attention
The findings come amid what experts describe as a national crisis of domestic and family violence in Australia. The Hannah Clarke case became a symbol of this crisis, prompting nationwide calls for reform and better protection for victims.
The Broken Trust investigation represents one of the most comprehensive examinations of police handling of domestic violence cases in recent Australian history. It raises crucial questions about accountability and systemic change within law enforcement agencies.
As the podcast series reveals previously undisclosed information, it provides victims' families and advocates with new evidence to push for meaningful reforms in how domestic violence cases are handled by authorities across Australia.
