CHILLING CCTV has revealed the moment two teen burglars broke into a Brit mum’s home leading to her fatal stabbing on Boxing Day.
Footage released by the Supreme Court of Queensland shows the first moments of the horror break-in at Emma Lovell’s North Lakes home in Brisbane.
CCTV showed the moment one of the teens checks if the home’s door is open[/caption]
The pair is then seen entering the home as one of them holds a knife[/caption]
Emma and Lee Lovell, both originally from Ipswich, England, moved to Australia in 2011 after first visiting the country in 2002[/caption]
The 41-year-old mum was stabbed to death outside her home on Boxing Day 2022[/caption]
The mum-of-two, 41, was fatally stabbed outside her home on December 26, 2022, during an attack carried out by two 17-year-old boys.
The video shows one of the teen thugs, who would later plead guilty to murder, testing the front door before signaling to his accomplice, off-screen, with a thumbs-up gesture.
Moments later, both boys reappear, with one of them wielding a large knife before entering the house.
Emma, along with her husband Lee, was 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.
During the fight, Mr. Lovell was stabbed, and the mum sustained the fatal blow to her chest as she tried to protect her family from the armed burglars.
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 Mr. and Mrs. Lovell 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 attacker who delivered the fatal blow admitted to the murder and received a 14-year prison sentence.
His accomplice, however, was acquitted of murder and instead found guilty of burglary and assault causing bodily harm in company during a judge-only trial in October.
The now-19-year-old, whose identity remains protected due to legal reasons, was also charged with several other crimes in the months prior to the home invasion, including burglaries at other properties.
Justice Michael Copley sentenced him to 18 months in detention, but as he had already spent nearly two years in custody awaiting trial, he was released immediately following the sentencing.
Emma Lovell’s husband, Lee, expressed frustration over what he viewed as a lenient punishment for the teenager.
The distraught husband argued that he should have received the same sentence as his co-offender.
Mr. and Mrs. Lovell, both originally from Ipswich, England, relocated to Australia in 2011 after first visiting the country in 2002.
Mr. Lovell said in court on Wednesday: “Australia was supposed to be our dream come to life, but I can’t help feeling completely let down and broken.”
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.
“I feel like Boxing Day 2022 was like a sliding door moment for us,” he said while addressing the teenage offender in court.
“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.”
Mr. Lovell talking to the media outside the Supreme Court of Queensland in Brisbane in May this year[/caption]