Mum Emma Lovell’s murder reignites youth crime law push

The alleged stabbing murder of Brisbane mum Emma Lovell has reignited criticism from the state opposition of the Palaszczuk government’s handling of youth crime.

Stabbing victim Emma Lovell with her husband Lee Lovell. Picture: Facebook

The alleged stabbing murder of Brisbane mother Emma Lovell has reignited criticism from the state opposition of the Palaszczuk government’s handling of youth crime and has renewed calls for tougher bail laws.

Ms Lovell, 41, was killed while she and her husband, Lee, who was also wounded, fought off two 17-year-old boys who had broken into their North Lakes home on Boxing Day.

Her death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the community and led to calls for a crackdown on youth justice legislation.

Real estate agent Ben Cannon, who came to the aid of neighbour and former Wallaby Toutai Kefu during a violent home invasion by a group of teens in 2021, said he had warned the Palaszczuk government its laws were not working and that it was only a matter of time before someone was killed.

“Now we’re sitting here saying ‘what do we do?’ ” Mr Cannon said. “The government says they’ve got the toughest laws in the country. Well, it's not working. So stop pretending like your system is perfect and start focusing on some results or resolutions that will help us.”

Mr Cannon said charges needed to be escalated for anyone who turned up to someone’s home with a weapon.

He said he had compassion for wayward youths who needed to be “taken out of the cycle that they’re in”.

“Whether that means farm work, education, TAFE, a trade, or conscription-type service, they need to be given a framework and environment where they’ll have a better chance of growing into a decent adult,” Mr Cannon said.

“I certainly don’t think locking him up throwing away the key is the solution.”

Ms Lovell’s alleged killers, who cannot be identified under Queensland law because of their age, had their matters mentioned briefly on Wednesday in the Brisbane Childrens Court.

They will remain in custody until their next court appearance on January 16.

Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon, head of the state’s youth justice task force, said police were still investigating whether knives were brought to the scene or found in the house.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli called for an overhaul of youth justice laws, saying they had been “watered down” during Labor’s eight years in power.

“There must be a commitment that the rights of a family come ahead of the rights of a young ­offender,” he said.

“Every fair-minded Queenslander wants to see the Youth Justice Act strengthened, they want consequences for action, they want breach of bail to be an offence, and they want a commitment for that to happen today.”

But Bill Potts, a veteran criminal lawyer and former law society president, cautioned the Palaszczuk government against a “knee-jerk reaction”.

“Politicians like to compete to show who's the toughest on crime, and accuse the other side of being weak,” he said.

“But that kind of debate, is short-termist and most importantly, does not address the criminogenic causes of crime.

“Most children involved in crimes of the extreme kind have a multitude of problems,” he said.

Mr Potts said to curb young ­offending rates, government must address youth homelessness, mental health access, and drug rehabilitation. “Children don’t go to jail to be improved and invariably, the punishment of being separated from their families simply hardens them,” he said.

“Jails are essentially the universities of crime.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan said while the government had been criticised over changes to youth justice laws, the changes had resulted in “more young people in custody for longer which is disrupting their offending”.

“I believe that reflects community expectations around consequences for offending,” he said.

“It would be naive for people to think that there is a simple solution to a complex issue.”

Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group chief executive Brett Thompson said intervention for troubled youths needed to take place in early childhood via government agencies and schools that were well-funded with specialist psycho­logists and criminologists.

“The prison system is not the system to rehabilitate because they don‘t have the resources,” Mr Thompson said.

“The way we’re doing it is not working.

“(Tougher laws) have their place, no question. The community has to feel safe, but that doesn't happen by simply locking up and waiting for things to change.”