Teen pleads guilty to murdering Brisbane mother Emma Lovell

An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to murdering Emma Lovell and stabbing her husband in the back during a home invasion at North Lakes on Boxing Day 2022.

A teenager has pleaded guilty to murdering Emma Lovell and stabbing her husband in the back during a home invasion in Brisbane’s north on Boxing Day 2022.

The 18-year-old, who can’t be identified because he was a minor at the time, pleaded guilty in Brisbane’s Supreme Court on Monday to murder, burglary, malicious act with intent and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Emma Lovell was killed in a home invasion in 2022. Picture: Supplied

The teenager, then 17, stabbed Ms Lovell in the chest when he and another youth, also 17, broke into her North Lakes home.

The teen also stabbed her husband, Lee, and kicked him in the face.

Mr Lovell, who was present in court on Monday, became emotional as the details of the charges were read out.

As a youth justice matter Justice Peter Callaghan had to consider whether restorative justice was appropriate. The court heard the youth was willing to engage but Mr Lovell had not given his consent.

Justice Callaghan determined it was not appropriate.

Lee Lovell leaves the Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday after a youth pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife, Emma Lovell, in 2022. Picture: Tertius Pickard

He was also required to order a pre-sentence report.

The matter was adjourned for sentence on May 3.

The teenager remains in custody.

A brief review of the second defendant’s case was held before Justice Peter Callaghan on Tuesday.

The court heard the defence had made submissions to the prosecution and the matter was adjourned to April 2.

The defence said depending on the outcome of that submission, the case may be able to be listed for an arraignment on that date.

The juvenile defendant was not in court for the review.

Lee Lovell with daughters Scarlett and Kassie at home in North Lakes. Picture: Steve Pohlner

It comes less than three months after the one-year anniversary of the shocking home invasion.
Mr Lovell and his two daughters opted to flee for the anniversary in December to be with family in the UK, saying he couldn’t bear to mark the milestone at the North Lakes home where the tragedy occured.

Emma Lovell. Photo: Supplied

He told The Courier-Mail in December that he and his daughters Scarlett and Kassie once held Christmas as one of their most precious family times. But it was all now very different.

“Christmas this year is a bit of a weird thing for me. I do want to be happy, and I do want I want to get involved in Christmas and I want the kids to be happy,” he said.

“Then part of me just wants to sort of, bury my head and wake up in January and just forget everything over Christmas.”

He had said that despite a year passing it seemed to happen “not that long ago”.

He also said he struggled to sleep, with any noise prompting him to check security cameras.