Teens to be charged with Qld mum’s murder

Marty Silk and Rex Martinich | December 27, 2022

Two teenage boys will be charged with the stabbing murder of mother-of-two Emma Lovell and the attempted murder of her husband Lee in their home north of Brisbane on Boxing Day night.

Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Hogan says the 41-year-old mother and her husband, 43, were attacked after confronting the 17-year-olds who had allegedly broken into their North Lakes home about 11.30pm on Monday.

Ms Lovell was stabbed in the chest and he was stabbed in the back, and both were rushed to hospital, but she died not long after being admitted.

Det Snr Sgt Hogan says two alleged attackers, from Zillmere and Holland Park, are set to be charged with murder, attempted murder and break-and-enter on Tuesday.

“A confrontation has occurred inside the dwelling, and then outside on the front yard of the dwelling, where the woman sadly suffered a fatal stab wound and the male with her also suffered a stab wound,” he told reporters.

Detectives have also arrested two other males, who are still being questioned about the incident by police.

The attack appears to be random and not premeditated, as the intruders had no links to the Lovells, Det Snr Sgt Hogan said.

“They (the couple) disturbed the offenders inside the dwelling, they were woken by … barking dogs,” he added. 

“They disturbed them (the pair) inside the dwelling, and yes they (the Lovells) were defending their house.”

Neighbours heard and saw two girls, believed to be the Lovells’ daughters, screaming “someone help my Mum” as paramedics tried to save the woman, the Brisbane Times reported.

The day before the incident, the Lovell family had enjoyed a Christmas outing at Point Cartwright on the Sunshine Coast.

“So for the 1st time in 11 years we spent Christmas day on the beach, even managed to cook up some bacon and eggs! Hope everyone has a great Christmas day spent with loved ones and friends,” Mr Lovell wrote in a Facebook post.