An Australian man has been cleared of murdering a British woman during a break-in at her home in Australia.
Emma Lovell, 41, was stabbed after confronting two intruders in a suburb north of Brisbane on Boxing Day 2022. The judge-only trial heard it had been accepted the second defendant, who was 17 at the time, did not stab anyone himself. The matter in contention was whether he knew his co-accused, also then aged 17, was carrying a knife.
The judge ultimately ruled there was no proof beyond reasonable doubt that the cleared man had knowledge of the knife. He was convicted of burglary and assault, but cleared of more serious charges including the alternative charge of manslaughter.
Mother-of-two Mrs Lovell emigrated from Ipswich in Suffolk in 2011 with her daughters and her husband Lee, who was also injured in the attack. Speaking outside court, an emotional Lee Lovell described the verdict as “a bit of a joke”, saying “I don’t feel justice for Emma one bit.”
The case was heard by a judge alone because the issue of youth crime was a key debate during last weekend’s state government elections, and it was feared this could prejudice a jury. The Liberal National Party swept to power in Queensland, with a campaign that promised tougher sentences for juveniles.
The other man admitted murder earlier this year and was jailed for 14 years. The judge remanded the cleared man in custody, awaiting a pre-sentence report by early December, with his defense indicating he may be eligible for release soon given the time already served.
The verdict has left the Lovell family feeling that justice has not been served, as they grapple with the tragic loss of Emma Lovell during the home invasion. The case has reignited debates around youth crime and sentencing in Australia.
