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

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

A man accused of “aiding” the ******* 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 *******.

Bradley Bell was on trial in Brisbane Supreme Court charged with the ******* 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 *****.

Mr Bell was not alleged to have ******* Ms Wilkinson.

Camera IconBradley Bell was found not guilty of the ******* of Gold Coast mum Kelly Wilkinson on Friday. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australiadata:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconMs Wilkinson was murdered by her estranged ex-husband Brian Earl Johnston, who repeatedly stabbed her before dousing her in fuel and setting her alight in April 2021.

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Credit: Supplied

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 ******* his ex-wife, including a specific plan to “tie her up and ***** her”.

Mr Bell was found not guilty of ******* and the alternate count of manslaughter by a jury on Friday.

He walked free from court that same afternoon.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconMr Bell (centre) walked free from court on the same afternoon the jury returned their verdict. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australiadata:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconBrian Earl Johnston (pictured) is serving a life sentence for murdering Ms Wilkinson. Supplied /

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Credit: Supplied

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 ***** 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 ******* earlier this year and has pleaded not guilty to four charges of *****, allegedly committed against his ex-wife in the weeks before he ******* her.

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