Breaking: High Court throws out reduced sentence for teen who killed Emma Lovell

High Court throws out reduced sentence for teen who killed Emma Lovell Posted Wed 5 Aug 2026 at 10:41am The High Court of Australia has thrown out a reduced jail sentence handed to a 17-year-old over the murder of Brisbane woman Emma Lovell. The mother of two died after she and her husband Lee were stabbed in a burglary at their home on Boxing Day in 2022. Her killer pleaded guilty to four charges, including murder and was originally sentenced to 14 years in prison. That was reduced by 60 per cent by the Queensland Court of Appeal, because of special circumstances, including the teen's age and guilty plea. But today, the High Court overturned the reduced sentence, finding that the Court of Appeal should not have interfered with the original term of imprisonment. Loading