Bradley Bell found not guilty of murder of Gold Coast mum Kelly Wilkinson after driving killer ex-husband to woman’s address

A man accused of “aiding” the killer of Gold Coast mum Kelly Wilkinson by driving him to her home and filling up a jerry can of petrol on the way has been found not guilty of murder. Bradley Bell was on trial in Brisbane Supreme Court charged with the murder of Ms Wilkinson, 28, back in April 2021. Ms Wilkinson was murdered by her ex-husband Brian Earl Johnston, who broke into her Arundel home on the morning of April 20 that year, repeatedly stabbing her before dousing her in petrol and setting her on fire. Mr Bell was not alleged to have killed Ms Wilkinson. Throughout the trial, the Crown alleged he “aided or enabled” Johnston by driving him to his ex-wife’s address, filling up a jerry can with fuel along the way. It was further alleged Mr Bell knew of Johnston’s plan to murder his ex-wife, including a specific plan to “tie her up and burn her”. Mr Bell was found not guilty of murder and the alternate count of manslaughter by a jury on Friday. He walked free from court that same afternoon. Multiple co-workers of Mr Bell and Johnston gave evidence throughout the trial, along with detectives involved in the investigation and arrest of Mr Bell. Mr Bell also gave evidence when the Crown closed its case against him. Ed Whitton, Mr Bell’s defence barrister, had told the jury on the first day of the trial their main focus would be to determine if the Crown had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Bell “knew or expected what Johnston was going to do”. “Bradley Bell didn’t kill anyone,” Mr Whitton said. He urged the jury to assess the evidence fairly and objectively, including the recorded interview between Mr Bell and police. “Please understand, there will be two sides to this story by the time this trial has finished,” Mr Whitton said. “I can tell you now … you will hear an explanation from Bradley Bell as to why he said those things to the police.” Johnston was handed a life sentence for Ms Wilkinson’s murder earlier this year and has pleaded not guilty to four charges of rape, allegedly committed against his ex-wife in the weeks before he killed her. Domestic Violence helplines