Mum’s alleged teen killers’ charges kept secret as case reaches Supreme Court

The case of two juveniles charged over the alleged Boxing Day stabbing death of North Lakes mum Emma Lovell has reached the Supreme Court.

The case of two juveniles charged over the death of North Lakes mum Emma Lovell has reached the Supreme Court of Queensland with indictments presented by the Crown on Tuesday.

But due to the state’s secretive youth justice legislation, the community is prevented from knowing what charges they are facing with court staff banned by law from revealing basic information including their charges or current age.

The teens were both aged 17 when they allegedly broke into the Lovell family home on Boxing Day 2022.

Emma Lovell. Source: Facebook.

It is alleged Mrs Lovell, 41, was stabbed in the chest while trying to fend off the juvenile intruders.

Two teenagers were charged with murder and attempted murder but it is unclear if those are the charges they still face, with details of the indictment not read out in court and staff banned by law from releasing that information as is allowed in adult cases.

The accused were not required to be in court on Tuesday when the crown presented the four count indictment before Justice Peter Callaghan.

Police at the scene where Emma Lovell was allegedly stabbed to death. pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Lawyers for the pair said they intended to make submissions to the Director of Public Prosecutions in coming weeks.

Defence barrister Laura Reece, who is representing one of the accused, flagged that if the case were to proceed to trial, she would apply for a judge alone trial.

Hannay Lawyers solicitor Hugh Stitt, representing the other juvenile, said he would make a submission to the DPP this week about his client and that the Crown had advised it would be in a position to “consider it quickly”.

Lee Lovell, husband of North Lakes mum Emma Lovell. Pic: Channel 9

The court heard the case would need to be dealt with before the end of the year, with at least one of the alleged offenders due to turn 19 in November.

Under Queensland legislation, juveniles charged with criminal offences can be sentenced as adults if they have not been convicted of the charges by the time they turn 19.

Both teens are in custody and their matters were listed for mention in March.

Originally published as Mum’s alleged teen killers’ charges kept secret as case reaches Supreme Court