Two teenagers responsible for the brutal murder of British mother Emma Lovell in Australia have had their prison sentences extended after prosecutors successfully appealed the original ruling.
The pair, who were 17 at the time of the attack, broke into Lovell's home in North Lakes, Queensland, on Boxing Day 2022. During the violent confrontation, the 41-year-old mother of two was fatally stabbed in the chest while trying to protect her family.
Originally sentenced as juveniles, the offenders received 14 and 10-year terms respectively. However, Queensland's Court of Appeal ruled these punishments were "manifestly inadequate" given the gravity of the crime.
Justice Applegarth stated: "This was a cowardly attack on a defenceless woman in her own home. The community rightly expects such horrific crimes to be met with appropriate consequences."
The new sentences see both offenders facing additional years behind bars, with the court emphasising the need for deterrence and community protection. Emma's widower, Lee Lovell, welcomed the decision but noted no sentence could ever bring his wife back.
The case has sparked renewed debate about youth crime in Queensland, with calls for tougher sentencing laws and better rehabilitation programs for young offenders.
