‘I’ve got a f**king alibi’: Teen murderer’s claim to police after horror stabbing of North Lakes mum Emma Lovell
A court has been told of the chilling claim made by a teenager just after he violently murdered a mum on Boxing Day, as her husband shared his grief.
The heartbroken husband of a Queensland mum stabbed to death at her home on Boxing Day says he doesn’t feel like justice has been served “one bit” after his attacker was sentenced to 14 years’ jail.
North Lakes woman Emma Lovell was killed when a teenager, then 17, stabbed her in the chest after entering her home in the early hours of December 26, 2022.
The horrific act was captured by cameras surrounding the Lovell home, with audio recording Ms Lovell’s final moments on the family driveway while the teenager and his alleged accomplice fled.
Supreme Court Justice Tom Sullivan on Monday sentenced the teen, now 19 years old, to 14 years jail after finding the offence was “particularly heinous” in the circumstances.
There were audible gasps from the public gallery when the declaration was handed down.
But with time already served, the teenager will be eligible for release after serving more than nine years - or 70 per cent of the sentence - behind bars.
Mr Lovell - whose birthday is on the same day as the sentencing - along with his daughters and a handful of supporters were in attendance to watch the proceedings.
Outside court Ms Lovell’s widower Lee said he welcomed the sentence but said no sentence was enough to bring his wife back.
“I’d like to think going forward this could help other people, set a new precedent,” he said.
Mr Lovell revealed he had been anxious about proceedings, spending Mother’s Day keeping his mind off the pending sentence.
“It would have been a very different day if Emma was here,” he said.
Asked if he felt like justice had been served, Mr Lovell said: “No, I don’t feel like justice is served one bit.”
The teenager pleaded guilty in March to charges of murder, burglary by break-in while armed and in company, malicious act with intent and assault occasioning bodily harm.
During the sentencing, Justice Sullivan said the teenager entered the Lovell’s home that night with his alleged accomplice, after signalling the front door was unlocked.
The Lovells were woken up by their barking dogs, confronting the teenager and the alleged accomplice in their home.
The struggle then moved to the front lawn where Ms Lovell suffered the fatal strike to her heart, Justice Sullivan said.
“Mrs Lovell can be seen on CCTV footage with a large bloodstain on her nightgown, in the abdominal area,” he said.
The court was told after the fatal blow, Mr Lovell was also stabbed in the back, thenforced to the ground and kicked in the face.
After, the teenager returned to a residence with his alleged accomplices.
Justice Lee said the Lovell’s teenage daughters were sobbing over their mother as she lay outside the house.
Paramedics attempted open heart surgery before she was rushed to hospital, Justice Sullivan said.
“The depth of the knife wound had been approximately 13cm,” Justice Sullivan said.
“You had used, at least, moderate force to inflict the wound.”
Justice Sullivan said police later knocked at the door the teen had fled to, where the person who answered the door lied about other people – including the teenager in question – being at the property.
The teenager was found lying under a blanket in a bedroom.
Justice Sullivan said the teenager lied that he had slept from 9pm that night, and told police: “My auntie lives in Zillmere. You go ring her, I’ve got a f**king alibi from 9’oclock to now”.
While detained outside the residence, the teen was seen laughing.
The handle of the knife was also found in the same residence.
In considering the teenager’s antecedents, Justice Sullivan said the teen was exposed to violence from an early age.
He was moved to a relative’s residence at age 10 after his mother decided she could no longer care for him.
Justice Sullivan said the teenager’s grandmother had been his sole support and role model, but died when he was 14.
“You left school at a grade 8 level,” he said.
Justice Sullivan said the teenager had commenced his drug and alcohol use after his grandmother’s death, which increased after losing a close friend to suicide.
In victim impact statements, the Lovells had spoken of their despair at losing Ms Lovell.
“Part of the damage caused by you … is those two daughters directly experienced the devastating aftermath,” he said.
“No sentence this court can impose will ever seem to adequately address … the loss of Mrs Lovell.”
Prosecutors have pushed for a life sentence for the teenager, asking Justice Sullivan during a sentencing hearing on May 3 to find the offence “particularly heinous”.
Justice Sullivan said even having regard to the teen’s remorse and attempts at rehabilitation, he found the murder offence was “particularly heinous”.
The court was told the teenager had elected to arm himself with a knife on the night of Ms Lovell’s death, despite their car being in the driveway to indicate they were home.
Justice Sullivan said the teenager was prepared to, and did, use a knife at the time he attempted to flee from the Lovell’s during the confrontation.
“You could have, but did not, discard the knife before the fatal blow was dealt,” he said.
“You were prepared to use violence … the kicking of Mr Lovell’s head was gratuitous violence.
“The violence you engaged with against Mrs Lovell was always likely to have profound implications for others.
“It is correct to describe this offence as atrocious, and one that generates outrage in the community.”
The court was told the teenager attributed his offending to the days-long drug binge he had been on before the offending.
Justice Sullivan said the teenager had also been given multiple court-imposed probation orders for other offences.
In sentencing him to 14 years, Justice Sullivan said 503 days the teen spent in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.
He was ordered to serve nine years – or 70 per cent of the sentence – behind bars.
During a sentencing hearing on May 3, the court was told the teenager was just four months shy of turning 18 when he fatally stabbed Ms Lovell.
Crown prosecutor David Nardone argued the teenager’s “high culpability” during the crime was because he went armed with a knife to the Lovell home.
The child had a lengthy criminal history prior to the murder, including 16 break-and-enters where two of the homes were occupied.
He was armed for the first time when he broke into the Lovells’ home, Mr Nardone said.
In CCTV of the horrific killing, which was played to the court on May 3, the teenager can be seen “stealthily” checking the Lovell’s home and appears “somewhat gleeful” when he finds the door unlocked.
Despite now being an adult the teenager cannot be identified under Queensland law, as he was a juvenile at the time of murdering Ms Lovell.
His co-accused, who is yet to enter a plea, still has his matter before the courts.
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