A judge has acquitted a young man of murdering British expat Emma Lovell, who was fatally stabbed during a break-in at her Australian home on Boxing Day 2022.
Mrs. Lovell, 41, confronted two intruders at her residence in a suburb north of Brisbane, alongside her husband Lee. The couple’s daughters had emigrated with them from Ipswich, Suffolk in 2011.
A three-day trial earlier this month concluded with the judge delivering a not guilty verdict on Thursday. The other intruder had previously pleaded guilty to murder and received a 14-year sentence.
The acquitted defendant, now 19, was 17 at the time of the incident and cannot be named due to legal reasons. The court accepted he did not stab anyone, but the prosecution argued he was liable for Mrs. Lovell’s murder as the pair intended to break in while armed.
However, the defence countered that there was no proof beyond reasonable doubt that he knew his co-accused carried a knife. The judge ultimately agreed.
Lee Lovell expressed disappointment outside court, calling the verdict “a bit of a joke.” “I don’t feel justice for Emma one bit. We’re the ones left with the life sentence.”
The case was heard by a judge alone due to concerns about potential jury prejudice, given the recent Queensland state government elections focused on youth crime and tougher sentences.
The acquitted defendant was convicted of burglary and assault on Lee Lovell, who was kicked and stabbed in the back. Justice Michael Copley remanded him in custody pending a pre-sentence report due in early December. Defence barrister Laura Reece noted her client may be eligible for release soon, considering his almost two-year remand.
