Lee Lovell issues a desperate plea after a teenage thug who broke into his North Lakes home on the night his wife was stabbed to death WALKS FREE – despite more than 100 prior criminal offences

A devastated father whose wife was murdered during a home invasion on Boxing Day says ‘justice has not been served’ and he and his family felt ‘abandoned’ after one of the two intruders left court.

Mother-of-two Emma Lovell, 41, was stabbed to death on the front lawn outside her home in North Lakes, north of Brisbane, in December 2022.

While the youth who killed Ms Lovell was sentenced to 14 years in prison earlier this year, the other intruder, now aged 19, was allowed to walk free from the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday due to the time he has spent in custody since the incident.

It comes after he was acquitted of murder or manslaughter and of wounding the mother-of-two during a judge-only trial in October. He was found guilty of burglary and assaulting Mrs Lovell’s husband Lee.

Mr Lovell told Channel Nine A current issue that the verdict was another heavy blow for him and the couple’s two teenage daughters, Kassie and Scarlett.

“I wanted justice for Emma and I wanted justice for us, and I just don’t feel like we got that,” he told Ally Langdon on Wednesday night.

“Until things start to change for the justice system and the laws are implemented, how will this ever change for us or anyone else in the future?”

Although the teenager had convictions recorded for the Lovell home invasion and a further burglary, he was not given a probation order.

Mr Lovell, who was also stabbed during the home invasion, still wakes up terrified in the middle of the night.

“There are times when I still wake up in the middle of the night and, you know, check my phone to see if there’s a camera,” he said.

“You think there’s someone in your house or in the backyard and I’m not so sure that’s ever going to change anytime soon.”

Boxing Day will mark two years since the tragedy occurred.

Asked how he and his two daughters would cope with a second Christmas without Emma, ​​Mr Lovell said they would “enjoy it as best we can”.

“It’s going to be a challenge for all of us not to have Emma in our home and not have our family complete as it was, and like you said, you know, for that person (the released offender) they can get on with their lives . , you know, and enjoy their lives,” he said.

Mr Lovell reiterated calls for an overhaul of the justice system.

“I’m not saying I agree with locking up everyone, you know, every child for maximum punishment, “I never really advocated that,” he said.

“But I think if you cross the line into, you know, manslaughter and murder, then yeah, maybe you should be locked up for a longer period of time.”

The grieving father didn’t think Wednesday’s sentence provided any deterrent.

“You know, until people are punished for what they do, for the crimes they commit, how will anything ever change for people in the future?” he added.

Crown prosecutor David Nardone told the court on Wednesday that the boy had already faced 104 criminal charges and had committed offenses while still on a community order and probation.

Even on the day of the fatal home invasion, he had been released on bail that morning.

Mr Nardone said the youth had also pleaded guilty to 19 other offenses mainly related to stealing alcohol from shops worth $2,000 and wallets and vehicles from homes, while in company and at night, between September and December 2022.

Judge Michael Copley said the youngster had committed offenses mainly to obtain money to fund his substance abuse and had been influenced by others, but this could not excuse his offending.

‘I don’t know if your expressions of contrition are true or not. “No longer breaking the law would be the best proof,” he told the teen.

Judge Copley said the only appropriate sentence was a detention order.

“You have repeatedly insulted someone without regard for the property rights of others,” he said.

Judge Copley said video taken from a security camera above Lovell’s front door showed the youth’s attitude to court orders.

“You knew it was wrong to enter someone’s house. You knew you weren’t allowed to commit offenses while under court order,” he told the teen.

During the hearing, Mr Lovell read from his victim impact statement, but Judge Michael Copley said he would not be able to take into account parts relating to Emma Lovell’s death.

“We have made our home a place of love and protection… the actions of you and your co-offender have taken away our sense of security,” Mr Lovell read out.

“A night of unimaginable tragedy began when you decided to enter my house.”

Mr Lovell installed additional security cameras and a security door, but his family still felt a psychological impact.

‘Sleep is a problem. I wake up and think there’s someone in my house,” Mr Lovell said.

Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the sentence did not meet community expectations, nor her own.

“I will consider all aspects of today’s sentencing and seek further advice on the legal options available to me,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

Ms Frecklington said her thoughts were with the Lovell family and Emma’s death exposed “the horrific reality” of Queensland’s youth crime crisis.