Police knew of "high risk" domestic violence complaints against a man weeks before he set his estranged wife on fire and killed her, a coroner has heard.

Kelly Leigh Wilkinson, a 27-year-old mother-of-three was repeatedly stabbed, doused with petrol and set on fire by Brian Earl Johnston at her Arundel home on the Gold Coast on April 20, 2021.

Queensland Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher today opened an inquest at Southport into Wilkinson's death and the police's response to her prior domestic violence complaints.

Johnston had been subject to a domestic violence order when he murdered her.

He was also on bail accused of sexually assaulting Wilkinson.

Counsel assisting Sarah Lane said the inquest also proposed to look into whether the police acted in accordance with their procedures and policies.

Detective Inspector Sue Newton testified about the police ethical standards command's investigation into Wilkinson's case, noting the couple's first contact with police was about three weeks before the murder.

Johnston initially contacted officers in anticipation that Wilkinson would accuse him of rape, she said.

"He had concerns for the safety of the children," Newton said.

Wilkinson was designated as a "high-risk aggrieved" person, while the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre urged police to produce a "high-risk response" to her being in danger.

"(Police) put a high-risk flag on her name and residence," Newton said.

Wilkinson contacted police on April 1 to report Johnston had breached a protection order after he got a third-party to contact her about returning his property and getting access to the children.

Officers were tasked with responding to Wilkinson's complaint as a "lower priority" job.

There was no indication her complaint should have been treated as urgent, but the officers making the decision would not be aware of her "high risk" of domestic violence, Detective Inspector Newton said.

The coroner responded: "You are going to have to explain that to me."

It would take more than a week to provide evidence about that decision, the police commissioner's barrister Michael Nicholson told Gallagher.

Wilkinson was later accused of "cop shopping" by police, who did not act on her complaints days before her badly burnt body was found outside her home.

The officer who made the comment was later the subject of a disciplinary interview, Detective Inspector Newton said.

"The words to us were not appropriate to be used for a domestic violence situation," she said.

No officer received disciplinary action as a result of the case but two were given remedial training, Detective Inspector Newton added.

Johnston, a former US marine, later entered Wilkinson's home wearing black clothing and a black mask while carrying a backpack with a hatchet, duct tape, zip ties and sedatives.

Wilkinson's body was found outside her home and her killer was found nearby after he collapsed and suffered burns in the fire.

Support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491.