A devastated father whose wife was murdered during a home invasion on Boxing Day says “justice had not been served” and he and his family were “let down” after one of the two intruders walked free from court .
Emma Lovell, 41, a mother of two, was stabbed to death in the front garden outside her home in North Lakes, north of Brisbane, in December 2022.
While the young man who killed Ms Lovell was sentenced to 14 years in jail earlier this year, the other intruder, now aged 19, was allowed to walk free from the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday due to time served detention since the incident.
It comes after he was acquitted of murder/manslaughter and wounding the mother-of-two in a judges-only trial in October. He was convicted of robbery and assault on Ms Lovell’s husband, Lee.
Lovell told channel nine A current issue that the verdict was another blow to him and the couple’s two teenage daughters, Kassie and Scarlett.
“I wanted justice for Emma and I wanted justice for us and I just don’t feel like we got it,” she told Ally Langdon on Wednesday night.
‘Until things start to change for the justice system and laws are implemented, how is this going to change for us or anyone in the future?’
Emma Lovell (pictured with her husband Lee) was stabbed to death during a home invasion.
Boxing Day will mark two years since two North Lakes children’s moth died (pictured)
Although convictions were recorded against the teenager for the Lovell home invasion and another robbery, he was not given a parole order.
Lovell, who was also stabbed during the home invasion, still wakes up terrified in the middle of the night.
“There are times when I still wake up in the middle of the night and, you know, check my phone for the camera,” he said.
“You think there’s someone in your house or in your backyard and I’m not so sure that’s going to change anytime soon.”
Boxing Day will mark two years since the tragedy.
When asked how he and his two daughters would cope with a second Christmas without Emma, Lovell said they would enjoy it “as best as they could”.
“It will be a challenge for all of us to not have Emma in our home and complete our family as it was, and like you said, you know, for that person (the released felon) to be able to move on with their life.” “You know, and enjoy your life,” he said.
Lovell renewed calls for reform of the judicial system.
“I’m not saying I agree with locking up everyone, you know, all the kids for a maximum sentence, “I’ve never really advocated for that,” he said.
“But I think if you’re crossing the line and, you know, a manslaughter and murder charge, then yeah, maybe, maybe you need to be locked up longer.”
The grieving father did not believe Wednesday’s sentence would serve as a deterrent.
‘You know, until people start being punished for what they’re doing, for the crimes they’re committing, how is anything going to change for people in the future?’ he added.
Lee Lovell was left devastated after a teenager who broke into his home the night his wife died walked free from court on Wednesday.
Lee Lovell and her two daughters are about to spend their second Christmas without Emma
Crown prosecutor David Nardone told the court on Wednesday the young man had 104 previous criminal charges and had committed offenses while on community orders and on probation.
Even on the day of the fatal home invasion, he had been released on bail that same morning.
Nardone said the young man had also pleaded guilty to 19 other crimes related mainly to the theft of alcohol from stores worth $2,000 and purses and vehicles from homes in company and at night, between September and December 2022.
Judge Michael Copley said the young man had committed offenses primarily to obtain money to fund his substance abuse and had been influenced by others, but that could not excuse his offending.
‘I don’t know if your statements of repentance are true or not. No longer violating the law would be the best evidence,” he told the teenager.
Judge Copley said the only appropriate punishment was a detention order.
“You repeatedly offended without regard for the property rights of others,” he said.
Judge Copley said video taken by a security camera above Lovell’s front door showed the young man’s attitude towards court orders.
‘You knew it was wrong to enter someone’s house. “You knew not to commit crimes while you had a warrant,” he told the teen.
The young man who was released on Wednesday was released on bail when he participated in the deadly home invasion.
During the hearing, Lovell read her victim impact statement, but Judge Michael Copley said he could not take into account any part relating to Emma Lovell’s death.
“We made our home a place of love and protection… your actions and those of your fellow offender took away our sense of security,” Mr Lovell read.
“A night of unimaginable tragedy began when you decided to enter my house.”
Lovell installed additional security cameras and a security gate, but his family still felt a psychological impact.
‘Sleep is a problem. “I wake up thinking there’s someone inside my house,” Lovell said.
Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the sentence did not meet the community’s expectations or her own.
“I will consider all aspects of today’s sentencing and obtain further advice on the legal options available to me,” he said in a statement Wednesday.
Frecklington said his thoughts were with the Lovell family and Emma’s death “laid bare the horrific realities” of Queensland’s youth crime crisis.