Kelly Wilkinson murder: US Marine husband Brian Johnson still not punished after setting wife on fire

Even the sentencing judge concurs that Kelly Wilkinson's family feels justice hasn't been served by the possibility that her killer would go free after serving 20 years.

After pleading guilty to killing Wilkinson on April 20, 2021, Brian Johnston, 37, was given a life sentence in Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday. Johnston had previously stabbed Kelly Wilkinson, 27, and set her on fire, according to Daily Mail.

Brian Johnston was Kelly Wilkinson's estranged husband, who had been the beneficiary of several court orders meant to keep her safe.

In court, it was disclosed that Johnston was also accused of raping Kelly Wilkinson a few weeks before he killed her. The courts are still considering the case.

Danielle Carroll, the sister of the mother-of-three, confronted the murderer in court and then expressed her family's outrage with his punishment of awaiting public attention.

Brian Johnston will enter a not guilty plea to the rape accusations at a later hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court.

Despite emphasising that the charges constitute part of the murder's factual background, Justice Peter Applegarth made clear that this did not imply that the allegations are true.

“Their relevance is you were acutely aware and concerned that she had made those allegations against you,” he said, the Courier Mail reported.

As he was giving the former Marine his sentence, Applegarth stated that the length of time he could give Brian Johnston was restricted by law and that he would probably agree with Kelly Wilkinson's family if they felt it was insufficient for the "horrendous crime."

According to Philip McCarthy, the crown prosecutor, Brian Johnston repeatedly stabbed Kelly Wilkinson in the neck and chest before setting her on fire at her Gold Coast residence.

Additionally, Brian Johnston acknowledged violating both his bail requirements and a domestic violence order.