Two teenagers charged with murder of woman in Boxing Day home invasion at North Lakes, near Brisbane

Two teenage boys have been charged with murder and attempted murder after a woman was killed at her home in north Brisbane on Boxing Day.

Emma Lovell, 41, was fatally stabbed in the chest after allegedly disturbing the offenders inside her North Lakes home at about 11.30pm on Monday night, police said.

Her husband Lee Lovell, 43, was stabbed in the back.

Superintendent John Hallam said the couple were "trying to defend their home".

He said a 17-year-old boy from Zillmere and a 17-year-old boy from Holland Park fled and were tracked down by the dog squad, and they and two other teenagers were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning. 

Police are still questioning the other two teenagers, a 17-year-old and 16-year-old.

He said police had had "prior contact" with all four teenagers.

The mother-of-two died at hospital.

It is understood Queensland Ambulance Service medical director Stephen Rashford and another officer performed an emergency procedure known as a thoracotomy at the scene. 

The lawn was still strewn with medical debris the next day. 

"We were confronted with a horrific scene. Paramedics did all they possibly could. Unfortunately the lady passed away when she attended the hospital," Superintendent Hallam said.

He said the community is in mourning.

"I still struggle to understand why these types of violent crimes occur," he said.

Superintendent Hallam said youth crime was a "whole community problem".

"This isn't a policing problem. We can't arrest our way out of this. It's a whole community challenge."

Jay Balhatchet, who lives across the street from the family, said neighbours rushed over to find the father already on the phone to emergency services.

"When the guys ran off, he was already on the phone and trying to help his wife," he said. 

Mr Balhatchet said he watched as paramedics tried to save Ms Lovell for 15 to 20 minutes on the front lawn.

Police are urging anyone from the North Lakes area with information, CCTV footage or dash cam footage, to come forward.

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15h ago15 hours agoTue 27 Dec 2022 at 4:58am

Qld police: 'We need to work together as a community'

Asked what message he would give to the community, Superintendent John Hallam says "this is a terribly sad day".

"We need to work together as a community to say no to this type of violence, but also support each other when it occurs," he says.

That brings the press conference to a close.

15h ago15 hours agoTue 27 Dec 2022 at 4:53am

Dog squad used to track down two alleged offenders

Superintendent John Hallam says the two boys who will be charged later today allegedly entered the couple's home at around 11:30pm last night.

He says "a confrontation has occurred", and the alleged offenders fled on foot.

"Police attended and by using the dog squad, tracked those two to another address nearby."

15h ago15 hours agoTue 27 Dec 2022 at 4:45am

Couple were defending their house during alleged home invasion

Superintendent John Hallam says the couple in their 40s "disturbed the offenders inside the dwelling".

"They were awoke by barking dogs and they were defending their house," he says.

He says the investigation has not found any link between the alleged offenders and the victims.

15h ago15 hours agoTue 27 Dec 2022 at 4:40am

Qld police: 'The whole community is mourning'

Superintendent John Hallam says investigations are ongoing and he is limited in what he is able to say.

He says the woman's family is "traumatised and shattered".

"The whole community is mourning," he says.

He adds it is a "terribly sad day that someone's life has been taken in this way".

"I still struggle to understand why these types of violent crimes occur."

15h ago15 hours agoTue 27 Dec 2022 at 4:35am

Two people will be charged with murder, police say

Superintendent John Hallam says two 17-year-old boys from Zillmere and Holland Park will be charged with murder, attempted murder and break and enter later today.

Two other people are in custody and assisting police with their enquiries.

15h ago15 hours agoTue 27 Dec 2022 at 4:33am

Queensland police are addressing the media

Good afternoon. QPS Superintendent John Hallam is speaking following the death of a 41-year-old woman at North Lakes last night.

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