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A grieving husband has shared his family’s heartbreak following the death of his beloved wife who was allegedly stabbed to death during a home invasion.

Emma Lovell, 41, and her husband Lee, 43, were inside their North Lakes home, north of Brisbane, on Monday night when intruders allegedly forced their way inside.

The Lovells confronted them, and a scuffle allegedly broke out on the front porch as they defended their home, with Mrs Lovell allegedly being suffering a fatal wound to the the chest and Mr Lovell allegedly being stabbed in the back before the intruders fled.

The pair who moved to Australia from the UK to start a better life years earlier, were rushed to hospital after paramedics performed emergency surgery on Mrs Lovell at the scene. She died not long after she was admitted.

‘Emma was the glue in our family, she was funny, smart, so caring, would do anything for anyone,’ Mr Lovell told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

‘She died trying to protect me and our family. We’re all devastated by what has happened. I miss her so much.’

Heartbroken father Lee Lovell (right) has shared an emotional tribute to his wife, Emma (left), who died while trying to defend their North Lakes home from intruders on Monday night (both are pictured with their two daughters)

Heartbroken father Lee Lovell (right) has shared an emotional tribute to his wife, Emma (left), who died while trying to defend their North Lakes home from intruders on Monday night (both are pictured with their two daughters)

'Emma was the glue in our family, she was funny, smart, so so caring, would do anything for anyone,' Mr Lovell said of his wife

‘Emma was the glue in our family, she was funny, smart, so so caring, would do anything for anyone,’ Mr Lovell said of his wife 

The father-of-two explained he and his wife were alerted to the presence of the two intruders via a home security application.

‘We heard our two dogs barking, Emma checked on our Swann security app and saw the front door was open,’ he said.

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‘We both rushed out of our bedroom door, Emma behind me, and saw two people in our house.

‘I didn’t even know there was an issue until my daughter spotted her mum was bleeding.’ 

Police dog squad officers arrested four males, aged 18, 16 and two aged 17, nearby about four hours after the home invasion.

The two 17-year-olds, from Zillmere and Holland Park, have been charged with murder, attempted murder and entering a dwelling with intent on Tuesday. 

They’ve been refused bail and are set to appear in Brisbane Childrens Court on Wednesday.

The oldest and youngest males, who were also arrested, are still being questioned by detectives.

Just hours before the incident, Mr Lovell posted on Facebook to wish his family and friends a Merry Christmas, and shared a photo of the family together at the beach on the Sunshine Coast.

‘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!’ Mr Lovell wrote online.

‘Hope everyone has a great Christmas day spent with loved ones and friends.’

He added that the mother-of-two 'died trying to protect me and our family' and that he missed her 'so much'

He added that the mother-of-two ‘died trying to protect me and our family’ and that he missed her ‘so much’

Mr and Mrs Lovell were alerted by the presence of two intruders in their home through a home security app

Mr and Mrs Lovell were alerted by the presence of two intruders in their home through a home security app

Neighbour Julie Balhatchet told Daily Mail Australia her daughters were in the second floor of their home when they saw the commotion unfolding across the road.

They quickly told their dad who ran across the street to help.

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‘When my husband ran over, it was dark he had no idea she was injured,’ Mrs Balhatchet said.

‘She [Mrs Lovell] was laying face down on the ground bleeding.’

Mrs Balhatchet said after the scuffle in the street, her daughters saw the two alleged offenders running from the house.

While her husband and Mr Lovell worked to save his wife, another neighbour ushered the two daughters away from the traumatic scene.

Mrs Balhatchet was devastated to later learn Mrs Lovell died in hospital.

‘It’s just so so sad,’ she said.

‘Those poor girls and her husband. He was very distraught.’

Mrs Balhatchet said the random alleged attack had shocked the normally quiet neighbourhood.

‘I’ve lived here 19 years and nothing like this has happened.’

‘You think, why them? It could have been any of us on the street.’ 

As police prepared to charge two teens with murder, officers remained at the cordoned- off home in North Lakes on Tuesday

As police prepared to charge two teens with murder, officers remained at the cordoned- off home in North Lakes on Tuesday

Police inquiries into the Boxing Day tragedy at the North Lakes home continue

Police inquiries into the Boxing Day tragedy at the North Lakes home continue

Another woman who lives in a nearby suburb, Natalie, came by the home to drop off flowers after hearing about the tragedy on the news.

She told Daily Mail Australia that her friend, who lives in south Brisbane, had experienced a break in and managed to scare the intruders away.

While no one was harmed, the family were so traumatised they moved away and now always sleep with their personal items next to the bed.

‘What is Australia coming to?,’ she said.

‘It’s becoming like America.

‘Something has to change.. people should feel safe in their homes.’

Originally from the UK, Mr and Mrs Lovell fell in love when they first came to Australia in 2002 as they travelled along the east coast.

Within ten years, the couple had welcomed two daughters and returned to Australia to call Down Under their permanent home.

Mr Lovell’s social media is filled with photos of his family enjoying Queensland’s beaches and warm weather.

On a post about a visit to a distillery on Tamborine Mountain in the Gold Coast hinterland in February 2013, Mr Lovell recommended the life-changing move to interested friends back in the UK.

Mr and Mrs Lovell fell in love when they first arrived in Australia from the UK back in 2002. Within ten years, the couple had welcomed two daughters and returned to Australia to call Down Under their permanent home

Mr and Mrs Lovell fell in love when they first arrived in Australia from the UK back in 2002. Within ten years, the couple had welcomed two daughters and returned to Australia to call Down Under their permanent home

‘It is amazing over here, being able to go to the beach, swim in warm water, using free BBQs, but it’s hard not being around friends and family,’ Mr Lovell wrote.

‘We only have one life, so go for it and don’t have any regrets.

‘Oz is a big place, but Brisbane is a pretty good place to be. The weather is bearable, and we’re not too far from the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast, both have really good beaches and are family friendly.

‘Don’t be put off [moving to Australia] because the first time on a beach, and seeing how happy (and getting red) your kids are, it’ll all be worth it,’ he said. 

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