A British mother-of-two was killed on Boxing Day defending her home in Australia from two intruders. Emma Lovell, 41, died as a result of her injuries after being stabbed in the chest on her front lawn after two teenagers attempted a home invasion. Her husband Lee suffered serious injuries in the attack.
Two 17-year-old boys will face court charged with her murder and the attempted murder of Mr Lovell, 43.
The couple, who had been living in Australia for more than 10 years but were originally from Ipswich, Suffolk, were allegedly attacked on Boxing Day at their home in North Lakes, 30 miles north of Queensland’s capital Brisbane.
Superintendent John Hallam, from Moreton Police, told reporters Mr and Mrs Lovell were “disturbed inside the dwelling and were defending their house” at 11:30pm on Monday when they confronted the teenagers.
Police said in a statement that the altercation moved out to the front yard, where Mrs Lovell was allegedly fatally stabbed in the chest. Returning home from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital after treatment for a non-life threatening stab wound, a visibly upset Mr Lovell said his family was “devastated”.
He told reporters: “Emma was the glue to our family, she was such a beautiful person. We’re all just devastated by her loss.
“It’s senseless. I don’t know what people do it for.”
The Lovells are parents to two daughters, with Mr Lovell previously sharing photographs on social media of them together at a nearby Sunshine Coast beach on Christmas Day.
Family friend Skyle Fleming, 14, described Mrs Lovell as “amazing”.
Speaking to 7News, she said: “She was always a good mum, she was always laughing, always smiling – she was always there to support her daughters throughout everything.”
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Police allege the teenage boys had run off after the stabbings and were found, with the assistance of the dog squad, with two other youths nearby just before 4am on Tuesday.
The two 17-year-old boys, one from Brisbane’s Holland Park and the other from the city’s Zillmere, will face Brisbane Children’s Court on Wednesday charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder and entering dwelling with intent in company.
Both have been denied bail, while a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy continue to assist police with inquiries. A fundraiser set up for the Lovell family had raised nearly £24,000 pounds by 2am on Wednesday.
Christina Lofthouse, 41, Emma’s best friend of 33 years, said: “She was the first person I messaged in the morning and the last person I spoke to at night. I’m utterly heartbroken that my best friend is gone and I don’t get to speak to her again, hug her again, laugh with her and cry with her.
“Her poor daughters, husband, mum, brother and sister. As a family we are heartbroken to lose the best friend a girl could have. We had a friendship like no other.” Despite the distance, Christina said that the pair were “always together in spirit”.
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