Teenager who murdered Emma Lovell in 2022 Boxing Day stabbing sentenced to jail
By Talissa SigantoA judge has found the murder of Queensland woman Emma Lovell almost 18 months ago "particularly heinous" and has sentenced her teenage killer to 14 years in jail.
Mrs Lovell and her husband Lee were stabbed by a 17-year-old boy who had broken into their North Lakes home, north of Brisbane, late on Boxing Day in 2022.
The 41-year-old was wounded in the heart and died of her injury.
Earlier this month the teen responsible faced a sentencing hearing in Brisbane, after pleading guilty to several charges including murder and malicious act with intent.
During submissions, the Supreme Court heard the now 19-year-old had been in the company of another boy at the time, who is also facing charges, but has not yet entered a plea.
The stabbing attack, which took place outside the home, was also captured on the family’s CCTV system, and played to a gallery packed with loved ones of Mrs Lovell including her two daughters.
Justice Tom Sullivan determined the teen's offending was a violent act and was particularly heinous, which means by law he could hand him a higher sentence than 10 years.
"It is correct to describe the offence in this case as atrocious and one which would create a sense of outrage in the general community," he said.
"The Lovells were ordinary citizens enjoying their family life in their home where they were entitled to feel safe.
"What occurred … violated that entirely."
'Childhood deprivation'
Under Queensland legislation the maximum time in custody a juvenile can be ordered to serve is 70 per cent of their sentence, unless there are special circumstances.
Justice Sullivan told the court although parts of the teen's "childhood deprivation" had met this threshold, it did not outweigh the seriousness of the offence and "does not warrant the reduction".
"The violence you engaged in … was always likely to have profound implications for others," he said.
"You murdered Mrs Lovell, you thereby exposed Mr Lovell and his two daughters and others … to the trauma of the aftermath of that violence."
The teen will be released from custody after serving nine years and nine months.