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A court sentencing a second teenage girl involved in a home invasion in which a mother-of-two was killed on Boxing Day heard her family were still afraid to spend the night in their house.
One of the youths pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 14 years in prison in May.
The other youth, now 19, appeared in Brisbane’s Supreme Court today for sentencing after being acquitted of murder or manslaughter and wounding Lovell in a trial in October.
He was found guilty of burglary and assault on her husband Lee.
Lovell read his victim impact statement but Judge Michael Copley said he would not be able to consider any parts relating to Emma Lovell’s death.
“We have made our home a place of love and protection … the actions of you and your co-offender have taken away our sense of safety,” Lovell said.
“A night of unimaginable tragedy began when you decided to enter my home.
Lovell said he has installed additional security cameras and an armored door, but his family is still feeling the psychological impact.
“Sleep is a problem. I wake up thinking someone is in my house,” Lovell said.
Crown prosecutor David Nardone told Judge Copley the young man had 104 previous criminal charges on his record and had committed offenses while on a community order and probation.
“His record is dominated by property crimes and dishonesty, but includes violent robbery and common assault,” Nardone said.
“The burglary and assault (at the Lovells’ home) took place in the evening after they had been out on bail for hours.”
Nardone said the youth also pleaded guilty to 19 other crimes, mainly related to shoplifting $2,000 worth of liquor and wallets and vehicles from homes while in company and overnight between September and December 2022 .
Copley heard that the young man had been in custody since the morning after the break-in at Lovell’s home.
Defense barrister Laura Rees said her client should not face a new probation order after showing improvement while in custody.
“Almost two years in prison is punishment enough,” she said.
Rees said psychological reports show the youth has taken steps toward rehabilitation, is remorseful and has positive plans for the future.
Copley said the youth committed crimes primarily to get money to fund his substance abuse and was influenced by others, but that could not excuse his offending.
“I don’t know if your statements of remorse are true or not. The best evidence would be to not break the law again,” he said.
Copley said the only appropriate punishment was a detention order.
“You have repeatedly offended without regard to the property rights of others,” he said.
The youth was sentenced to 18 months in custody with convictions recorded on the charges of breaking into Lovell’s home and another burglary.
He was not placed on probation and released with time served.
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