The teenager who murdered Brisbane mother Emma Lovell in a home invasion is fighting for a lighter sentence and earlier release from prison.
The shock move in court has left Mrs Lovell’s husband Lee reeling and forced him to relive the trauma of that horrific night.
“It’s been pretty horrific really. Even today in court, you know, when they were talking about it you can’t help imagining again that evening and being confronted and thinking if you’ve done the right thing,” he said.
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He lost his wife in a violent home invasion on Boxing Day in 2022 at the hands of a teenager wielding a knife in North Lakes.
“She’s still my wife. I want to support her and get the best outcome that I possibly can for her,” Mr Lovell said.
He’s relived the trauma of that night again and again as her killer went through the courts.
Today was another blow.
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The teen’s lawyers launched a Supreme Court appeal to reduce his time in jail.
“It feels quite unfair that the offender is allowed to appeal the sentence,” Mr Lovell said.
The then-17-year-old was sentenced to 14 years behind bars last year after pleading guilty to murder.
He’s due to be released in 2032.
The teen was handed that sentence after the judge declared his offending “particularly heinous” but his lawyers disagree, arguing factors of the crime do not meet the higher threshold and should only be considered “heinous”, which, if successful, could lead to a lighter sentence.
Mr Lovell says he’s been blocked from launching his own appeal of the sentence given to the teen and a co-accused, who was found guilty of burglary and assault but acquitted of murder and walked free from court.
“I just think it’s pretty disgraceful,” he said.
The appeal judges will hand down their decision at a later date.
“I think the judges and everyone in court, they throw around big words and they talk about people’s lives, but they’ve got, they don’t understand the impact of that life that’s been gone and it’s not here anymore,” Mr Lovell said.
