Teenager saw knife before fatal home invasion that killed North Lakes resident Emma Lovell, judge hears

A teenager accused of killing a mother-of-two during a home invasion saw his friend’s knife “centimeters from his face” before the killing, a judge has been told.

The youth also pleaded not guilty to armed entry and malicious mischief and assault occasioning bodily harm in relation to Ms Lovell Lee’s husband, who was kicked and then stabbed in the back.

The young man was recently granted a judge-only trial as youth crime became a central issue in the lead-up to Saturday’s Queensland election and previous media reports highlighting his criminal record.

Crown prosecutor David Nardone told Judge Michael Copley on the first day of the trial today that the young man did not directly commit violence against Emma and Leigh Lovell.

“The primary responsibility of the defendants is that, at the time of execution, they have a common goal of stealing while armed with a knife,” Nardone said.

“The accomplice’s actions could have endangered human life.”

Nardone said the youth was guilty of acts committed by another 17-year-old as a likely consequence of their joint efforts to break into the house with a knife.

Another teenager charged in Ms Lovell’s death pleaded guilty to her murder in March and was sentenced to 14 years in prison in May.

Nardone said the accused visited a youth hostel about 120 meters from the Lovells’ home on December 26, 2022, before a companion apparently took a knife from there and the pair walked down the street at 11.30pm.

Judge Copley was told CCTV footage from the Lovells’ home would be crucial to the case and would see the accomplice check the front door and find it unlocked before the accused entered.

“The accomplice brings his hand to the face of the accused. The distance between the knife and his face is only a few centimeters,” Nardone said.

The prosecutor said the Lovells were awakened by dogs and found two young men in their home, leading to a confrontation that progressed to the front door.

Ms Lovell was fatally shot in the heart on her front lawn.

Her husband was stabbed and then kicked while he lay on the ground.

Nardone said the defendant’s black hat was found on the Lovells’ front lawn and police dogs tracked him to the youth home where he and his co-defendant were staying and arrested him.

Defense lawyer Laura Rees said the prosecution would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt the youth knew the other teenager had a knife before the home invasion.

The trial will continue for four more days.