North Lakes home invasion: Family enjoy beach 48 hours before tragedy

A mere two days before the home invasion that robbed them of their mother, a Moreton Bay family spent a relaxing Christmas Eve on the beach.

Emma and Lee Lovell with their children on Christmas Eve (Facebook image)

It is a picture-perfect moment, Christmas Eve on the beach, the bright, brimming smiles of a family who were unaware of the tragedy that lay ahead of them.

“So for the first time in 11 years we spent Christmas 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,” Lee Lovell posted on his social media account.

Two days later, on Boxing Day, his wife Emma Lovell, 41, was brutally stabbed to death, Lee was stabbed in the back and their two young girls will now have to navigate the rest of their lives without their mother after a horrific home invasion.

In the hours after Ms Lovell’s tragic death, Lee again took to social media, describing the same photo.

“This was us on Christmas Eve, we’d just been to Scarborough for breakfast, it was the third year we’d gone, we were trying to start a tradition to make some memories,” he commented on a post.

Lee Lovell with detectives at his house on Tuesday. Picture: Richard Walker

“We are all devastated by this, my wife, best friend, our children’s mum has been taken away.”

As he walked detectives through his family home on Tuesday, a heartbroken Mr Lovell described his wife as a beautiful person who was the “glue” for his family.

As police arrested teens they allege were responsible for her death, friends placed flowers and cards near her home.

“We are so incredibly sorry our beautiful friends,” a letter 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.”

Asked about Mrs Lovell’s daughters, Skye said: “They’re just trying not to think about.”

Originally from England, the couple first travelled to Australia in 2002 and visited the east coast before deciding to make the move permanently.

“It is amazing over here, being able to go to the beach, swim in warm water, using free BBQs etc, but as you’ve said before it’s hard not being around friends and family,” Mr Lovell wrote online about the decision to relocate.

“We only have one life, so go for it and don’t have any regrets.”

Shocked friends in the North Lakes community on Tuesday set up a fundraiser for Mr Lovell and his children.

“Emma leaves behind her husband Lee and two daughters, who are now faced with the unimaginable loss of their beloved wife and mother,” the GoFundMe page reads.

“Any donations, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated and will go towards helping the family with expenses during this difficult time.”

Over $20,000 had been raised for the family by last night.

North Lakes residents have also launched a Change.org petition titled ‘Emma’s Law’, calling for repeat offenders not to be granted bail.

Over 2,800 people have signed the petition to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk within the first 24 hours.

“Emma Lovell lost her life in front of her daughters and husband on Boxing Day in North Lakes in Qld while defending her home against home invaders. A beautiful life gone way too soon,” the petition reads.

Emma and Lee Lovell with their children (Facebook image)