A mother-of-two was stabbed to death in a house robbery the day after Christmas in Australia – and two teenage boys have been charged with her murder, local authorities have said.
Emma Lovell, 41, was stabbed in the chest in her backyard during a burglary at her family’s North Lakes residence on Monday night. Queensland Police confirmed.
Paramedics performed emergency surgery on her on the scene, and she or he was eventually pronounced dead on the hospital.
In statement released on Tuesday afternoonLaw enforcement said two 17-year-old boys were charged with murder, attempted murder and entering an apartment with intent to socialize in connection with Lovell’s death.
![](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/emma-lovell-featured.jpg?w=1024)
![Investigators outside the Lovells' home in North Lakes on Tuesday.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/home-evasion-221227-33.jpg?w=1024)
The suspects – whose names haven’t been released – have been denied bail. They’re next expected to look at Brisbane Kid’s Court.
Two other boys, aged 17 and 16, are cooperating with investigators after being arrested with those accused of manslaughter. All 4 teenagers were previously known to the police.
Originally from Ipswich, Lovell moved to Australia with her husband Lee over a decade ago, Guardian reported. The couple initially traveled the continent before settling outside of Brisbane to boost their daughters.
![Two 17-year-olds, one from Holland Park and the other from Zillmere, in connection with Lovell's death.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/home-evasion-221227-39.jpg?w=1024)
Lee Lovell, 43, suffered minor injuries in the attack and was rushed to hospital.
Chatting with reporters outside his home on Tuesday afternoon, Lee said the family was “devastated.”
“Emma was what held my family together, she was such a wonderful person,” he said told ABC News Australia.
![Both teenagers were denied bail.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/home-evasion-221227-42.jpg?w=1024)
Skye Fleming, 14, said she was a friend of Lovell’s younger daughter and described the victim as a “second mother”.
“She was amazing, all the time an excellent mom, all the time laughing, all the time smiling, all the time supporting her daughters,” lamented the teenager.
“She considered everyone family. It’s such a tragic thing.”
![Lovell and her husband Lee moved to Australia from the UK 11 years ago.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/emma-lovell-fb-03.jpg?w=1024)
Christina Lofthouse, Lovell’s best friend of 33 years, was similarly lonely.
“She was the primary person I texted in the morning and the last person I spoke to in the evening,” she said told the East Anglian Day by day Times.
“This terrible and senseless crime has left an enormous hole in our lives.”
![The suspects are then expected at the Brisbane Children's Court.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/home-evasion-221227-36.jpg?w=1024)
Just someday before the murder, the Lovells celebrated Christmas on the beach in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. They graced the occasion with a smiling selfie by the water, which Lee Lovell shared with friends on Facebook.
“Hope everyone has an exquisite Christmas…spent with family members and friends,” the unsuspecting husband and father wrote.
While the investigation into Lovell’s death remains to be ongoing, the fundraiser for the family quickly raised A$32,504 (about $21,909) in lower than 24 hours.
“During this difficult time, as a community, help Lee and the women deal with this heartbreaking tragedy,” the donation page reads.