Emma Lovell's teen killer has sentence reduced, husband breaks silence
- Roman Mackinnon
- Aug 15
- 2 min read
The Queensland Court of Appeal has granted a significant reduction to a convicted teen killer, after murdering 41-year-old mother Emma Lovell during a terrifying home invasion in North Lakes, North of Brisbane, on Boxing Day 2022.
In March 2024, the offender who was 17 at the time pleaded guilty to murder. During the sentencing, the judge described the crime as 'particularly heinous' with a a non-parole period of 70% and a 14 years sentence as a result. 70% is Queensland's maximum no parole time under juvenile law.
Today, the court reduced the non-parole requirement to 60% which means the killer - now aged 20 - can apply for a supervised released after 8 years and 5 months, which reduces the sentence by approximately 20 months.
Lee Lovell - who was stabbed in the back by the teenager during the early hours of Boxing Day 2022 - says he is "devastated" and "shocked that they can put more value on someone’s freedom than someone’s life."
"I feel that justice hasn't been served one bit."
Lee spoke to media outside the courtroom, critising the court saying "Surely the prison system and the courts should be a social deterrent for people not to commit crimes… Seems like all you are doing now is saying to people to commit an offence and not much will happen."
The killer could be released in 2031, if parole is granted.
Murder took place: December 26, 2022 (Boxing Day)
Guilty plea entered: March 11, 2024
Initial sentence handed down: May 2024 — 14 years, 70% non-parole
Court of Appeal decision: August 15, 2025 - 60% non parole
