Police Blamed Victim After Tragic Murder, Now Question Whether It Was a Media Mistake.
Senior Queensland police officers have given an explanation for the botched media strategy that led to controversial comments about domestic violence in the wake of Hannah Clarke's murder. The case drew widespread outrage after Det Insp Mark Thompson suggested there were people in the community who were "deciding which side" they would take in the investigation, implying that victims are sometimes responsible for their own death.
Documents revealed that the police presentation was part of a deliberate media strategy designed to encourage supporters of Clarke's estranged husband, Rowan Baxter, to come forward. However, it ultimately "went wrong" after community backlash.
Clarke's brutal murder led to widespread condemnation of Thompson's comments as "victim blaming". The former detective is no longer involved in the case, but he has since promoted and even presented a seminar on the Clarke homicide investigation.
The seminar, attended by the assistant commissioner Brian Swan, was heavily criticized by domestic violence campaigners. However, Swan's notes suggest that his boss, Katarina Carroll, disagreed with Thompson being removed from the case. The documents show that Swan believed "Mark should have remained" and argued that the decision to stand Thompson down was "wrong".
The police strategy also included encouraging witnesses who had previously supported Baxter to come forward. However, some of these witnesses made false claims about Clarke's alleged fabrications of domestic violence allegations.
Experts argue that the case highlights a lack of understanding within the police force regarding domestic and family violence.
A former senior detective with significant experience reviewing domestic violence homicides expressed concerns over the use of language in the media strategy. She stated, "This was a coronial investigation, not a criminal one... The initial comment was extremely problematic and dangerous, regardless of its intent."
The Queensland Police Service did not respond to Guardian Australia's questions regarding whether they endorsed the presentation or approved the content.
Senior Queensland police officers have given an explanation for the botched media strategy that led to controversial comments about domestic violence in the wake of Hannah Clarke's murder. The case drew widespread outrage after Det Insp Mark Thompson suggested there were people in the community who were "deciding which side" they would take in the investigation, implying that victims are sometimes responsible for their own death.
Documents revealed that the police presentation was part of a deliberate media strategy designed to encourage supporters of Clarke's estranged husband, Rowan Baxter, to come forward. However, it ultimately "went wrong" after community backlash.
Clarke's brutal murder led to widespread condemnation of Thompson's comments as "victim blaming". The former detective is no longer involved in the case, but he has since promoted and even presented a seminar on the Clarke homicide investigation.
The seminar, attended by the assistant commissioner Brian Swan, was heavily criticized by domestic violence campaigners. However, Swan's notes suggest that his boss, Katarina Carroll, disagreed with Thompson being removed from the case. The documents show that Swan believed "Mark should have remained" and argued that the decision to stand Thompson down was "wrong".
The police strategy also included encouraging witnesses who had previously supported Baxter to come forward. However, some of these witnesses made false claims about Clarke's alleged fabrications of domestic violence allegations.
Experts argue that the case highlights a lack of understanding within the police force regarding domestic and family violence.
A former senior detective with significant experience reviewing domestic violence homicides expressed concerns over the use of language in the media strategy. She stated, "This was a coronial investigation, not a criminal one... The initial comment was extremely problematic and dangerous, regardless of its intent."
The Queensland Police Service did not respond to Guardian Australia's questions regarding whether they endorsed the presentation or approved the content.
. Like, I get that police are trying to encourage witnesses to come forward, but does it have to be done in a way that sounds like victim blaming? It's like, no wonder people were outraged when they heard those comments 
. And now I'm reading that one of the senior cops was actually really cool with it going forward, which is just wild 
. The whole thing just feels like a big mess, and I don't know how you can teach someone that kind of language without them getting it all wrong. It's a real shame because this case was supposed to be about finding justice for Hannah Clarke, not perpetuating misinformation 
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oh man, this police stuff is like trying to herd cats on a Sunday afternoon... I mean, who decides to blame the victim after a murder? 
And now we're questioning if it was just a media mistake... yeah, because blaming the victim isn't exactly a common tactic used by law enforcement. 
It's all about how you spin it, right? But seriously, this case is a total mess, and I'm not sure what's more concerning - the fact that witnesses made false claims or the initial comment being "problematic and dangerous". 
What's next, blaming the victim for having a bad haircut? 
I mean, Det Insp Thompson's comments were not only hurtful but also super misleading - like, victims don't cause their own murder by 'deciding which side' they're on. 
. It's unfortunate that the police force didn't get this right, especially when it comes to handling sensitive cases like Clarke's.
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I mean, can you believe this?! They blamed the victim in the first place? Like, what even is that? 
Domestic violence is never the victim's fault.
It's a total fail on multiple levels. I mean, can you imagine if this was your sister or mother who got murdered by her partner? The thought alone gives me chills.