A teenager who murdered a mother-of-two after breaking into her home had previously been convicted of dozens of offenses but had spent less than a day in custody.
Emma Lovell, 41, was fatally stabbed in the heart after two boys, then both 17, broke into her home north of Brisbane at around 11.30pm on Boxing Day 2022.
One teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, regularly violated his probation orders, even while attending weekly court-ordered sessions in a program called Changing Habits and Reaching Targets.
The now 19-year-old, who already had a lengthy criminal history when he broke into the Lovell family home, pleaded guilty to murder, burglary by breaking and entering while armed and in company, malicious dealing with intent and assault with bodily injury injury.
Judge Tom Sullivan sentenced him to 14 years behind bars with a non-parole period of almost 10 years in the High Court in Brisbane on Monday.
It was one of the longest prison sentences imposed on a minor offender.
Emma Lovell (pictured) was fatally stabbed in the heart after two boys, then 17, broke into her Brisbane home at around 11.30pm on Boxing Day 2022.
Lee Lovell and his daughters Kassie (left) and Scarlett (right) are pictured outside court
In sentencing remarks, the court heard the teenager was a repeat burglar and car thief whose life of crime began when he was 15.
Within two years, his lengthy criminal record had grown to 84 offenses.
The judge noted that none of the previous convictions involved violence Courier mail reported.
Sixteen of the previous 84 violations involved burglaries or attempted burglaries.
On one such occasion, he fled when confronted by the homeowner, and was confronted by a dog during another burglary.
Judge Sullivan said the teenager’s main purpose was to break into houses to take car keys so he could steal a vehicle.
Another eleven offenses on his criminal record involved breaking into or stealing cars.
“You have not been taken into custody for any of the 84 offences,” the judge said.
In July 2021, the teen was placed on three months’ probation, followed by a nine-month probation in February 2022, a six-month probation in May 2022, and another six-month probation in July 2022.
The Lovell family – (from left to right) Emma, Kassie, Scarlett and Lee – is pictured
The judge said that during each of those probationary periods, the teen attended weekly meetings with a juvenile justice worker lasting 45 minutes to an hour in the Changing Habits and Reaching Targets program.
“This was a research-based program designed to directly address your property crimes with the aim of reducing your future offending,” the judge said.
Judge Sullivan said the teenager being subject to several probation orders when he murdered Ms Lovell helped make the crime “particularly heinous” and allowed him to receive a sentence greater than the 10-year maximum.
“It is relevant that this crime occurred while you were still on probation,” he said.
The judge revealed that the teenagers were found by police in a bedroom of a nearby house, hiding under a blanket, shortly after the offence.
“At some point while you were being held outside that residence, you started laughing,” he said.
“There had been no conversation with anyone right before the laughter.
“This offense was appalling and would cause outrage in the community.”
Prosecutor David Nardone previously said the teenager stabbed Ms Lovell with such force that the blade broke.
Security footage previously shown to the judge showed the teenager testing the front door and finding it unlocked before entering ahead of his accomplice.
The teenager then got into a physical altercation with Ms Lovell and her husband Lee while holding a knife and made two attempts to stab the pair.
The couple’s two teenage daughters, Kassie and Scarlett, were also sleeping when the co-perpetrators broke in.
The teenager stabbed Mrs Lovell in the heart and her husband in the back before kicking him in the head several times.
Emma Lovell (pictured with husband Lee) was stabbed to death on Boxing Day 2022
Police officers are pictured at the scene of the crime on December 27, 2022, the day after Emma was allegedly murdered
Judge Sullivan said Lovell’s daughters were standing over their mother’s body sobbing when emergency services arrived.
Open heart surgery was performed on the front lawn in an attempt to save her life.
The judge said the victim’s statements had revealed a “devastating” impact.
‘The Lovells were ordinary citizens who enjoyed family life in their home, where they have the right to feel safe. What happened was a complete violation of that,” Judge Sullivan said.
The teen will have to serve at least 70 percent of the warrant with credit for 500 days in custody.
His alleged accomplice has yet to enter a plea.
Speaking outside the court, flanked by his daughters, Mr Lovell said the sentence handed down was not enough.
“I don’t feel like justice is being served one bit. (We) thought he would get a life sentence,” he said
‘I think it was good to get fourteen years. But it will never be enough, it will never bring her back.
“I’d like to think this could help other people in the future and set a new precedent.”
Emma Lovell (pictured) was fatally stabbed in her home north of Brisbane in 2022