I spent a beautiful Boxing Day with my wife then my world fell apart… she died on our lawn protecting our daughters

"Our dogs were barking, at first I wasn't overly concerned about it because we've got camera apps on our phone...

"I woke up and rolled over to Emma and she was on her phone and said the front door was open.

"We opened up our bedroom door and saw two people in our house right in front of me.

"It was one of those things where you mind takes over and your body's just along for the ride."

Two youths, both 17, had approached their residence that fateful night.

One of them checked whether the door was unlocked - and it was.

The thug gave a thumbs up to his accomplice who quickly joined him - whilst holding a knife close to his chest. 

It was at this point that the couple, who had relocated to Australia in 2011 after first visiting the country in 2002, heard a noise from their bedroom.

Terrified, Emma and Lee approached the two 17-year-olds, before pushing them out onto their front lawn in a desperate attempt to protect their home and more importantly - their daughters. 

After a struggle, one of the thugs who was carrying a knife decided to use it, first stabbing Lee in the back and then striking 41-year-old Emma in the chest. The force was so brutal and vicious that the blade snapped.

By the time cops and medics arrived, the couple's daughters were standing over their mother, sobbing. 

Despite the paramedics performing an open-heart surgery on the front lawn in an attempt to save Emma's life, she died from the fatal stab wound.

Lee revealed how they had spent their last Christmas enjoying walks along the beach, baking minced pies, drinking cocktails and playing games at home.

"It was just a beautiful day, it was really nice," he said.

'Released immediately'

A few months later, in May, the attacker who delivered the fatal blow admitted to the murder and received a 14-year prison sentence.

His accomplice, however, was acquitted of murder and instead found guilty of burglary and assault causing bodily harm in company during a judge-only trial in October.

The now-19-year-old, whose identity remains protected due to legal reasons, was also charged with several other crimes in the months prior to the home invasion, including burglaries at other properties.

Justice Michael Copley sentenced him to 18 months in detention, but as he had already spent nearly two years in custody awaiting trial, he was released immediately following the sentencing.

Mr Lovell told Channel Nine's A Current Affair that the court decision was a heavy blow for his family.

He said: "I wanted justice for Emma and I wanted justice for us and I just don't feel that we've got that.

"Until things start to change for the court system and the laws are implemented, then how is this ever going to change for us or for anyone going forward?"

'Took away our sense of safety'

Reading his victim impact statement in person, devastated and heartbroken Lee said: "A night of unimaginable tragedy started when you decided to enter my home.

"We made our home a place of love and protection ... the actions of you and your co-offender took away our sense of safety.

"I still wake up at night fearing that someone is in our house again, constantly checking the cameras to make sure.

"Sleep is a problem. I wake up thinking someone is inside my home."

Outside court, Lee said the sentence was hard to take. 

"It doesn't feel like we have much of a justice system at all," he said.

Lee also expressed frustration over what he viewed as a lenient punishment for the teenager.

The distraught husband argued that he should have received the same sentence as his co-offender.

The dad-of-two said in court: "Australia was supposed to be our dream come to life, but I can't help feeling completely let down and broken."

Lee shared that his daughters' lives would never be the same and revealed he is now considering moving the family back to the UK.

"I feel like Boxing Day 2022 was like a sliding door moment for us," he said while addressing the merciless teenage thug in court.

"Our life should have been going in one direction, and yet, here I am, because of the actions of you and your co-offender taking away my family's right to expect peace, security, and safety within our family home.

"Now I am forced to play a role: the role of a grieving husband, a victim of assault, and a father, trying to make his family feel safe in our home again."

The teenager's defence barrister argued that he had shown "remorse and concern about the consequences of the break-in at the Lovell residence" and was making efforts to reform his life.

The judge acknowledged the offender's troubled and problematic upbringing in a home that was plagued by drug abuse, domestic violence, and a father spending a lot of time behind bars.

"None of this excuses your offending, but it puts it into a broader context," Justice Copley said.

During the trial, Justice Copley revealed that CCTV audio had captured chilling phrases like "I'll kill you" and "stop" during the fatal attack, with the word "stop" being shouted numerous times.

'Glue in our family'

Speaking of his late wife, Lee said she was "beautiful, amazing" and the "glue in our family," adding that he often breaks down in tears over her loss.

"Emma was funny, smart, so caring, and would do anything for anyone," he said.

"She died trying to protect me and our family."

In a Facebook post on Christmas Day, shared just hours before the tragedy, Emma wrote: "So for the first time in 11 years we spent Christmas day on the beach and even managed to cook up some bacon and eggs!

"Hope everyone has a great Christmas Day with loved ones and friends."