‘A darker world’: Best friend vows to care for slain mum’s family

A lifelong friend of slain mum Emma Lovell has expressed her shock and heartbreak waking up to the news of her death, vowing to always be there for her grieving daughters.

Emma Lovell’s best friend of 30 years, Christina Lofthouse, who lives in England, has revealed she woke up to the news of the 41-year-old’s death.

“The last photo I took with my best friend, my best friend of 30yrs, the last time I saw her was just a couple of months ago,” she wrote.

“We talked every day, morning and night (time zone difference),

“Waking up this morning knowing that the first message I get wouldn’t be hers and going to bed tonight will be as hard as last night because the message wouldn’t be from you telling me to get my backside to bed.”

Christina Lofthouse with her best friend Emma Lovell.

Ms Lovell, 41, was stabbed while fighting off two intruders who broke into the family home at North Lakes on Monday night about 11.30.

Ms Lovell’s husband, Lee, 43, was also stabbed in the back during the home invasion on Whitfield Crescent, before the teens fled the property.

Two boys from Brisbane, both aged 17, will face Brisbane Children’s Court charged with murder and attempted murder.

Christina Lofthouse with her best friend Emma Lovell.

Ms Lofthouse, who lives in Suffolk, revealed that she had already been planning another trip to Australia.

“We were already planning the next trip to Australia to spend much loved time with you and your beautiful daughters and Lee who I have known for almost as long,” she wrote

“I promise you Emmie that I will look after your daughter’s and always be there for them for everything they need or want.

“I will be here for Lee too as he navigates a world without you.

“The world is a little darker right now but the sky at night is brighter, till we meet again Emmie, sleep tight my love.”

Flowers laid at the Lovell home in Whitfield Crescent, North Lakes. Picture: David Clark

There has been an outpouring of support at the Lovell family home overnight.

Flowers and letters have been left at both the letterbox and in the front garden after the shock incident.

“We are so incredibly sorry our beautiful friends,” a note from Jon and Zoe wrote.

“We are truly heartbroken for your beautiful family, thinking of you at this tragic time.”

Family friend Skye Fleming described Ms Lovell as her “second mum”.

“Emma – she was amazing, she was always a good mum, she was always laughing, always smiling,” she said.

“She considered everyone family.

“When I saw it was Emma, I broke. It’s such a tragic thing.”

Lance Mergard from Chaplinwatch checked in on residents in North Lakes on Wednesday after the shock stabbing on Monday night. Picture: David Clark

Community crisis chaplain Lance Mergard has been knocking on the doors of people living nearby to the incident all of Wednesday morning.

“I think there’s understandable shock that has taken place,” Mr Mergard said.

“Each of the people I have spoken to have different reactions.”

Mr Mergard said the majority of people are dealing with their emotions

“There’s low anger that I would imagine, that I’ve noted and that low anger is in regard to not only why it happened but the irrationality of how it happened, that really it was an unnecessary act and that produces an anger they can’t resolve,” he said

But there is a sense of the community feeling unsafe.

“Security is one of the major issues of shock in a situation like this,” he said

“There has been a real sense of yes we’ve locked the back door now where they never used to, so they’ve taken extra steps to be able to respond to those needs.”