A teenager who broke into the home of a British mother in Australia – where another teen stabbed her to death – has been cleared of murder.
Emma Lovell, 41, was killed in North Lakes, Queensland, on Boxing Day in 2022 while fending off two intruders.
In May this year, the teenage attacker who pleaded guilty to her murder, was jailed for 14 years.
The second teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not stab anyone but was also charged.
Following a three-day judge-only trial at Brisbane’s Supreme Court, Justice Copley found the second teen not guilty of murder and the lesser offence of manslaughter of Ms Lovell and not guilty of malicious acts with intent in relation to her husband Lee, who survived the attack.
He was found guilty of burglary and assault.
Ms Lovell, a mother-of-two who had emigrated to Australia from Ipswich in 2011, died of a single stab wound to the heart.
The case against the second teen centred on whether he was aware his co-defendant was carrying a knife at the time of the break in.
CCTV footage reportedly shown to Justice Copley saw the pair approaching the Lovell family home. The second teenager is believed to have turned around to look at his co-defendant who was holding the weapon, according to Australian broadcaster ABC News.
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But the judge ruled that the evidence does not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the second teenager knew about or had seen the knife when they entered the property.
Mr Lovell said outside court that he was disappointed with the outcome of the trial, and according to ABC, he told reporters: “We’re the ones left with a life sentence now, and everyone carries on what they’re doing.”
The second teen will be sentenced in December.
