Teen pleads guilty to fatally stabbing Qld mum Emma Lovell during violent home invasion on Boxing Day

A teenager has admitted to his role in the fatal stabbing of a mum killed in a horror home invasion just after Christmas.

A teenager has pleaded guilty to the murder of a Queensland mum after stabbing her in the chest during a violent home invasion north of Brisbane just after Christmas Day.

North Lakes woman Emma Lovell was killed when two teenagers allegedly broke into her family home in the late hours of Boxing Day in 2022.

Ms Lovell, 41, suffered a fatal stab wound when the alleged confrontation spilled into the front yard.

Two teenagers, both 17 at the time, were charged with Ms Lovell’s murder and have spent the past two years remanded in custody.

A teenager has pleaded guilty to the stabbing murder of North Lakes mum Emma Lovell during a home invasion on Boxing Day 2022. Picture: Facebook

Lee Lovell, Ms Lovell’s widower, was present in court for the teen’s arraignment. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

On Monday at Brisbane Supreme Court one teenager - now aged 18 - entered pleas of guilty to charges of murder and burglary by break in the night while armed and in company.

The teenager cannot be identified due to laws in Queensland preventing the identification of child defendants.

He also pleaded guilty to malicious act with intent and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Those charges relate to the teenager stabbing Ms Lovell’s widower, Lee, in the back with a knife and kicking him while he lay on the ground.

Mr Lovell was present in court for the teen’s arraignment.

The teenager also pleaded guilty to stabbing Mr Lovell in the back and kicking him during the home invasion. Picture: Supplied / Facebook.

The court was told Mr Lovell had not consented to a restorative justice process when Supreme Court Justice Peter Callaghan considered whether it was an appropriate option before sentencing.

Mr Lovell did not comment as he left court.

The teenager will return to court for sentencing in May. His co-accused will face court on Tuesday.

Ms Lovell’s death amped the ongoing debate about youth crime in Queensland and the State Government’s response to alleged juvenile offenders to fever pitch.

Sweeping reforms were flagged by then-premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in response.

As part of the reforms, the maximum penalty for stealing a car will be increased from seven to 10 years’ jail.

That sentence would further increase to a more severe penalty of 14 years’ jail if the offence is committed at night and the offender is using or threatening violence; armed, or pretending to be armed; in company with others or threatens to damage property.

Two new youth detention centres will be constructed in the state, while a dedicated Youth Crime Taskforce Commander role, appointed by Queensland Police, was announced to oversee the crime crackdown.

Originally published as Teen pleads guilty to fatally stabbing Qld mum Emma Lovell during violent home invasion on Boxing Day