Killer teen’s horrifying criminal record before stabbing Emma Lovell to death exposed

A teenager jailed for murdering a Queensland mum after breaking into her home north of Brisbane on Boxing Day had never spent a day in custody despite racking up an astonishing 84 convictions since he was 15.

North Lakes woman Emma Lovell was stabbed to death outside her home after the teenager, then 17, entered through the unlocked door before attempting to get away from a struggle with the mum of two and her husband Lee on the night of Boxing Day back in 2022.

In the ensuing scuffle, Ms Lovell suffered a fatal stab wound to her heart, while Mr Lovell was also stabbed in the back and kicked in the face.

That teenager, who has since turned 19 in custody, was sentenced to 14 years’ jail on Monday for Ms Lovell’s murder.

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It can be revealed that this is his first stint in custody despite racking up convictions over a 2.5 year period in the lead-up to the North Lakes carnage.

Emma Lovell was stabbed to death outside her home on Boxing Day 2022 by a teenager armed with a knife. Supplied Credit: Supplied

Lee Lovell said he did not feel justice was served ‘one bit’ after the teenager who murdered his wife was sentenced to 14 years’ jail. NewsWire / Glenn Campbell Credit: News Corp Australia

In sentencing remarks published by Queensland’s Supreme Court earlier in the week, Justice Tom Sullivan said the teenager had been convicted of 84 offences related to break-ins or attempted break-ins of homes or cars.

The first was committed in May 2020 – when the teenager was just 15.

Sixteen of them involved unlawful entry or attempted entry of premises – two of which involved homes with the families still inside.

“On one occasion, you were confronted by an owner and you fled,” Justice Sullivan said.

“On another occasion, you were confronted by a dog inside the home.

“Commonly, the purpose of your unlawful entry was to obtain car keys to allow you the use of cars which would then be stolen.”

Eleven offences in the teenager’s record were for unlawful entry or use of vehicles.

Despite the staggering number of entries, he was never placed in custody – instead being sentenced to probation orders lasting anywhere between three to nine months.

Justice Sullivan said those probation periods involved weekly meetings with a Youth Justice case worker that lasted from 45 minutes to an hour.

The Lovells confronted the teenager and his alleged accomplice in their home – the brawl spilling onto the front lawn where Ms Lovell was fatally stabbed. Supplied Credit: Supplied

“(You would) participate in a module-based program known as Changing Habits and Reaching Targets,” Justice Sullivan said.

“This was a research-based program, which sought to directly target your property offending behaviours with a view to reducing your future offending.”

The teenager was on one such probation order at the time he murdered Ms Lovell.

Justice Sullivan found the attack on the Lovells to be a “particularly heinous” offence, which allowed him to jail the child for more than the maximum 10-year jail term that can be imposed under Queensland’s Youth Justice Act.

Prosecutors had previously pushed for this in the circumstances the teenager was on probation and had arrived at the Lovells’ home armed with an 11.5cm knife.

“It is correct to describe the offence in this case as atrocious and one which would create a sense of outrage in the general community,” Justice Sullivan said.

During Monday’s sentencing, the court was told the teenager was on a three-day bender at the time he broke into the Lovells’ home on the night of December 26, 2022.

CCTV captured the teen checking the front door at 11.27pm, giving a thumbs-up sign to his alleged accomplice before moving out of frame and coming back armed with the knife.

The teenager who murdered Ms Lovell, pictured with her husband Lee, had never spent a day in custody despite being convicted of 84 offences in the years prior. Supplied Credit: Supplied

The Lovells woke to their dogs barking and confronted the teenager and his alleged accomplice inside.

“The Lovells commenced yelling and swearing at both of you to get out, and they pushed you … out the front door,” Justice Sullivan said.

During the struggle, which spilt onto the front lawn, the teenager inflicted the fatal stab wound to Ms Lovell.

Police located him at a residence hiding under a blanket in a bedroom.

Justice Sullivan said the teenager lied that he had slept from 9pm that night, and told police: “My aunty lives in Zillmere. You go ring her, I’ve got a f**king alibi from 9’oclock to now.”

While detained outside the residence, the teen laughed.

In sentencing him to 14 years’ jail, Justice Sullivan took into account his antecedents, including the teenager’s exposure to violence and substance abuse.

The court was told the teenager lost his grandmother – considered the “most positive and important person” in his life at the time – at the same time he lost a stepbrother to suicide.

After this, he began abusing drugs and alcohol and inhaling glue.

He had also expressed “sorrow for the legacy of this offending”; however, the court was told the teenager still attributed his offending to his substance abuse and the physical struggle.

“This demonstrates, at least to a certain extent, that you lack a willingness to confront the consequences of your own actions,” Justice Sullivan said.

With time already served, the teenager will need to serve nine years and 292 days in custody or 70 per cent of the sentence.

His co-accused, who is yet to enter a plea, still has his matter before the courts.

Following the sentencing, Mr Lovell said he didn’t feel justice had been served “one bit”.

“I suppose it was good to get 14 years,” he told reporters.

“But it’s never going to be enough, it’s never going to bring (Emma) back.”