The man accused of murdering Gold Coast mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson and setting her body alight will remain in custody after his charges were mentioned in court.
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Brian Earl Johnston, 34, of New Beith, is charged with murder, breaching a domestic violence order and his bail conditions after the burned body of Ms Wilkinson was found in a Gold Coast back yard.
Johnston was arrested on Tuesday just two blocks from the Arundel property where his former partner's body was found, and he is suffering burns to his hands and possibly his airway.
He was transferred to the burns unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane where he remained under police guard as his case was mentioned Wednesday morning in Southport Magistrates Court.
Johnston cannot apply for bail and was formally remanded in custody until June 4.
Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn said on Tuesday that Ms Wilkinson and Johnston were known to each other and "potentially in a previous relationship".
"So that is the subject of one of the avenues of our ongoing investigation into this matter," Det Insp Ahearn told reporters.
Neighbours reported raised voices coming from the home about 6.40am.
"It was obviously a very confronting scene, a female person deceased in the rear yard of a residence, apparently suffering from burn-type injuries," Det Insp Ahearn said.
Three children, all under the age of nine and present at the time of the incident, may have witnessed Ms Wilkinson's death.
All three are safe and will be interviewed as part of the investigation.
Police are speaking with local residents and have stopped rubbish collections because potential evidence may have been dumped in a bin.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family and pay for Ms Wilkinson's funeral.
"Please help us! We appreciate any help no matter how big or small," organiser of the fundraiser Natalie Wilkinson said.
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Australian Associated Press