AG Reviews Options After Youth Offender Released in Home Invasion Murder Case

A statue depicting the goddess of Justice balancing the scales is seen at the Rennes' courthouse on May 19, 2015. Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images

Queensland’s Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has criticised the sentencing of a youth offender involved in a break-in that resulted in the violent murder of a Brisbane mother.

Victim Emma Lovell, 41, and her husband, Lee Lovell, were attacked by two youths in their North Lakes home in 2022, with one of the teens fatally stabbing Ms. Lovell through the chest.

In May, the offender responsible for Ms. Lovell’s death was convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years’ detention.

In October, his accomplice who was involved in the break-in, but did not attack Ms. Lovell, was acquitted of murder, manslaughter, or wounding.

On Dec. 4, he faced the Brisbane Supreme Court for sentencing. Neither youths can be legally identified due to their ages at the time of offending.

The second offender was released on sentencing after being handed 18 months’ detention, the time he had already served.

He was found guilty of burglary and of assaulting Mr. Lovell.

Convictions were recorded against him for the Lovell home break-in and another burglary he had been involved in.

‘Heartbreaking Loss’: AG

Attorney-General Frecklington said the outcome demonstrated the importance of strengthening the state’s youth crime laws—a move that has angered United Nations representatives.

“The heartbreaking loss of innocent mum, Emma Lovell, laid bare the horrifying realities of Queensland’s youth crime crisis,” Frecklington said in a statement.

“I know this sentence will not meet community expectations. It does not meet mine.”

Frecklington said cases like Mrs. Lovell’s were why the Crisafulli government was committed to the Making Queensland Safer laws.

“I will be considering all aspects of [the] sentencing and obtaining further advice about the legal options available to me,” she said.

Because the Making Queensland Safer laws have not yet been legislated, the young offender was sentenced under the state’s current system.

Husband Left in Fear

Mr. Lovell told media outside court that he believed the accomplice should have received the same sentence as the murderer.

“To see him walking out ... was hard to take,” he told reporters on Dec. 4.

“It doesn’t feel like we have much of a justice system.”

The court heard the youth had 104 prior criminal charges and had committed offences while on community orders and probation.

His past showed he had a history that included violence in robberies and assaults—the break-in at the Lovells’ happened the night he'd been released on bail from a police watchhouse.

Mr. Lovell also read from his victim impact statement in court.

“We made our home a place of love and protection ... the actions of you and your co-offender took away our sense of safety,” he said.

“A night of unimaginable tragedy started when you decided to enter my home.”

Mr. Lovell said he struggled to sleep since the attack, believing someone was in his home.

Defence barrister for the offenders Laura Reece argued her client had served sufficient time, had felt remorse and was working on his future.

In sentencing the teen, Justice Michael Copley said he did not know if the offender’s statement of remorse was true.

“No longer breaking the law would be the best evidence,” he told him.

Tougher Laws

Under the LNP’s Making Queensland Safer laws, offences of murder, manslaughter, unlawful striking causing death, grievous bodily harm, wounding, serious assault, home and business break-ins, robberies and dangerous operation of vehicles would attract larger maximum sentences.

The principle of “detention as a last resort” would also be removed for young offenders.

“The Making Queensland Safer Laws are the first strike back against a youth crime crisis a decade in the making,” Premier David Crisafulli said in a statement.

Crisafulli has vowed to have the laws set in stone by the end of the year.