Teen found not guilty of murdering Brisbane mum
A teenager has been found not guilty of murdering Brisbane mother Emma Lovell, with her heart-broken widow shedding tears at the verdict.
The now 18-year-old faced trial on the allegation that he had seen a knife in his co-offender's hand and knew he was armed when the pair broke into the Lovell home on Boxing Day in 2022.
The main offender fatally stabbed Emma and hurt her husband Lee in the struggle that followed.
With the case largely dependant on crucial split-second CCTV, Justice Michael Copley ruled he could not "be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused knew the other teen was in possession of the knife".
The teenager was found not guilty of Ms Lovell's murder or manslaughter and also acquitted of unlawful wounding, but was found guilty of burglary and assault in company.
Outside the court, Lee Lovell became emotional as he told reporters, "I'm not feeling too great at the moment - the verdict was a joke. I don't feel justified for Emma one bit."
"You try and do the best you can for her and I don't feel I've been able to do that."
Mr Lovell said legislation needed to be changed in order for victims and their families to have justice.
"You are a part of killing someone and you get a burglary charge. What does that say for anyone going forward," he said.
"We are the ones with a life sentence now."
Image credits: Facebook