The husband of a woman killed during a home invasion says he found it challenging to watch footage of the attack and listen to why the teenage killer should get a lighter sentence.
The teenager faced the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday after previously pleading guilty to murder at the first hearing in a multi-day sentencing trial.
The now 18-year-old and another teenager were charged after Emma Lovell was fatally stabbed at her home north of Brisbane in 2022.
Emma Lovell was stabbed during a home invasion in North Lakes in 2022
Lee Lovell (pictured) struggled in the Brisbane Supreme Court during a sentencing hearing for his wife’s killer, who demanded a lighter sentence on Friday
Emma Lovell, 41, (left) was allegedly stabbed to death by two boys, then aged 17, at around 11.30pm on Boxing Day (pictured with Mr Lovell)
Police alleged the two boys, then aged 17, broke into a house in North Lakes and attacked Mrs Lovell and her husband Lee at around 11.30pm on Boxing Day.
The mother-of-two died after being stabbed in the chest while Mr Lovell was treated in hospital for a knife wound.
Mr Lovell spoke outside court after Judge Tom Sullivan heard from the prosecution and defense what sentence he should impose.
“I didn’t really want to look at (the teen) too much. Initially I wasn’t going to read a victim impact statement either, but I felt I owed it to Emma to do so,” he said.
Mr Lovell said he had not seen the CCTV footage before Friday’s sentencing.
Lovell said it was traumatizing to see images of him fighting the teenagers the night of the stabbing
“It was quite difficult to see myself fighting with the boys coming out of the house. That was traumatizing,” he said.
Judge Sullivan heard he could sentence the teenager to a maximum of 10 years in prison or 14 years if he found the crime ‘particularly heinous’.
Mr Lovell told the court he was doing his best to raise his children after losing his wife of 22 years.
‘I feel so lost without her… It was so hard to return home. My daughter was afraid they would come back.”
Mr Lovell said his family faces a life sentence, while the person who killed his wife would not.
Prosecutor David Nardone said the teenager stabbed Ms Lovell with such force that the blade broke.
“He has broken into buildings or houses 16 times… this was the first time he entered a house armed and he knew the risks… he increased the risk of damage,” Mr Nardone said.
Security footage was played showing the teenager testing the front door and finding it unlocked before entering ahead of his accomplice.
The teenager shortly afterwards got into a physical altercation with Mr and Mrs Lovell while holding a knife.
Another camera showed the teens running down the street as the Lovells collapsed in their driveway.
Kassie (left) and Scarlett Lovell were also sleeping in the house when the teens broke in
The Lovell family left the court as graphic audio of the home invasion was played.
The couple’s two teenage children, Kassie and Scarlett, were also sleeping in the house when the co-perpetrators broke in.
A barking dog alerted the couple and they tried to push the two intruders out of the house.
The teenager stabbed Ms Lovell in the heart and Mr Lovell in the back before kicking him in the head several times.
Defense attorney Scott Lynch said the teen grew up in a chaotic environment, was exposed to domestic violence and found his only close friend dead after committing suicide.
“He only felt reasonable or himself after drinking alcohol, inhaling glue or inhaling cannabis,” Lynch said.
Judge Sullivan questioned why the teen’s premeditated decision to enter a home with a knife in hand, when he knew there were likely people inside, would not spark outrage among ordinary members of the community .
“His intention was to break in and enter, albeit armed. There was no intention to kill. The knife was used in the context of a struggle,” Lynch said.
Judge Sullivan said he would defer his sentencing decision until a date to be set next week.
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