A TEEN killer who stabbed a Brit mum to death will be released from prison more than one year early – sparking further heartbreak for the victim’s family.
Expat Emma Lovell, 41, was killed by a knife-wielding 17-year-old outside her home in Brisbane, Australia, on Boxing Day in 2022.
Emma Lovell was killed in 2022 during a home invasion
SWNSEmma and her husband Lee were stabbed during the attack[/caption]
9NewsHer widower has spoken out after the ‘devastating’ news[/caption]
Her heartbroken widower Lee was left “devastated” by the news, saying that the initial sentence was insufficient to begin with.
The teen previously pleaded guilty to stabbing Emma in the heart and her husband, Lee, in the back during the home invasion at North Lakes.
The youngster, who cannot be named, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, the maximum sentence.
At the time, children found guilty of murder could only be sentenced to 10 years behind bars – unless the court deemed the crime especially heinous.
But in December 2024, new Premier David Crisafulli brought in “Adult Crime, Adult Time” laws, setting a minimum 20-year non-parole term.
These new rules do not apply to old cases, and so an appeal made by the teen was heard under the old law.
His lawyers argued the judge made mistakes, ignored his personal circumstances, and gave a sentence that was “manifestly excessive”.
The state’s new Attorney-General, Deb Frecklington, is now weighing up whether to make an appeal to the High Court.
Emma’s husband told Courier Mail: “I don’t know what to say, I’m shocked that they can put more of a value to someone’s freedom than someone’s life.
“I just don’t feel justice has been served one bit for what happened to Emma.”
He added: “Seems like all you are doing now is saying to people to commit an offence and not much will happen.
Lovell explained that he hoped the new laws would help to counter the state’s youth crime wave.
He accused the justice system of “not doing its job”, adding that the teen’s appeal should have increased his sentence instead of decreasing it.
Meanwhile the Attorney-General said the decision was “an unacceptable outcome”.
In 2024, chilling CCTV revealed the moment the two teen burglars broke into Emma’s home before she was stabbed to death.
Footage released by the Supreme Court of Queensland showed the first moments of the horror break-in, with one of the thugs testing the front door before signaling to his accomplice with a thumbs-up gesture.
Emma and husband Lee were awakened by their dogs barking at around 11.30pm.
Confronting the intruders at their door, a physical struggle ensued outside, before the confrontation moved to the front lawn.
FacebookLee was stabbed in the back during the attack but survived[/caption]
Supreme Court of QueenslandHorror footage showed the moment the two teens broke into the property[/caption]
During the fight, Lee was stabbed, and Emma knifed in her chest.
In the footage audio, harrowing threats were also captured.
The phrase “I’ll kill you” and the word “stop” were heard multiple times, as both Emma and Lee fought for their lives.
According to court testimony, the defence claimed that the second teen was the one yelling “stop” during the incident, but the evidence painted a chilling picture of a violent attack.
The main attacker who delivered the fatal blow admitted to the murder and received the 14-year prison sentence.
The second teen was acquitted of murder and instead found guilty of burglary and assault causing bodily harm in company during a judge-only trial in October.
Emma and Lee, originally from Ipswich, relocated to Australia in 2011 after first visiting the country in 2002.
The dad-of-two shared that his daughters’ lives would never be the same and revealed he is now contemplating moving his family back to the UK.
He previously said: “I feel like Boxing Day 2022 was like a sliding door moment for us.
“Our life should have been going in one direction, and yet, here I am, because of the actions of you and your co-offender taking away my family’s right to expect peace, security, and safety within our family home.
“Now I am forced to play a role: the role of a grieving husband, a victim of assault, and a father, trying to make his family feel safe in our home again.”
AlamyLee previously speaking to reporters during the sentencing[/caption]
SWNSEmma (R) was stabbed in the heart during the break-in[/caption]