Approche production.

Approche production.

North Lakes is a suburb of Brisbane. It's about thirty one kilometers away from the Brisbane CBD. It's famous in Brisbane for a couple of reasons. It's the only place you can find at Costco and it's also the home to one of the two of Brisbane's Ikeas. The population is mainly made up of young families, and that's exactly why Lee and his wife Emma moved to Australia in the first place. It's a safe, quiet environment to raise their two kids, Cassie and Scarlet. It's Christmas twenty twenty two at Lee and Emma's house. It's been a big few days for the family, being away from the UK for Christmas. They spent the day together with friends at the beach, the quintessential Queensland Christmas. Boxing Day comes around and today's the day for mowing the lawn and watching Australia flog South Africa in the Boxing Day Test. At about nine point thirty pm that night, Lee and Emma finish watching a movie in the family room and then head off to bed. At eleven thirty Lee wakes up the dogs are going crazy outside. It's not their normal bark. They seem really angry. Emma is already awake. She's looking at the security cameras with the glow of her phone lighting up the room. On the cameras, she sees the front door is open. They get out of bed and they open the bedroom door and are confronted by two intruders. One of them, a seventeen year old boy, has an eleven centimeter knife. Lee and Emma are startled. They try to defend their house and protect their two teenage kids by pushing the thieves outside. They didn't see the knife until it was too late. The thieves run, but not before Lee is stabbed in the back and kicked in the face. As Lee has taken away in the ambulance, his wife Emma is lying on their front lawn with specialist paramedics performing open heart surgery because of a knife wound to her heart, but it's too late. Emma passes away on her front lawn a boxing day. This story sounds like such a nightmare, sounds like it's from a movie, but it's not. It's happening right across the country and in Queensland right now. It's the worst sitting in Australia for youth crime.

North Lakes is a suburb of Brisbane. It's about thirty one kilometers away from the Brisbane CBD. It's famous in Brisbane for a couple of reasons. It's the only place you can find at Costco and it's also the home to one of the two of Brisbane's Ikeas. The population is mainly made up of young families, and that's exactly why Lee and his wife Emma moved to Australia in the first place. It's a safe, quiet environment to raise their two kids, Cassie and Scarlet. It's Christmas twenty twenty two at Lee and Emma's house. It's been a big few days for the family, being away from the UK for Christmas. They spent the day together with friends at the beach, the quintessential Queensland Christmas. Boxing Day comes around and today's the day for mowing the lawn and watching Australia flog South Africa in the Boxing Day Test. At about nine point thirty pm that night, Lee and Emma finish watching a movie in the family room and then head off to bed. At eleven thirty Lee wakes up the dogs are going crazy outside. It's not their normal bark. They seem really angry. Emma is already awake. She's looking at the security cameras with the glow of her phone lighting up the room. On the cameras, she sees the front door is open. They get out of bed and they open the bedroom door and are confronted by two intruders. One of them, a seventeen year old boy, has an eleven centimeter knife. Lee and Emma are startled. They try to defend their house and protect their two teenage kids by pushing the thieves outside. They didn't see the knife until it was too late. The thieves run, but not before Lee is stabbed in the back and kicked in the face. As Lee has taken away in the ambulance, his wife Emma is lying on their front lawn with specialist paramedics performing open heart surgery because of a knife wound to her heart, but it's too late. Emma passes away on her front lawn a boxing day. This story sounds like such a nightmare, sounds like it's from a movie, but it's not. It's happening right across the country and in Queensland right now. It's the worst sitting in Australia for youth crime.

Queensland's youth crime pricess has reached new highs this morning, with alarming figures confirming offenses are on the rise. You're not the arrest joy ride stolen black Audi coming to a dramatic end at Castle Gynoff.

Queensland's youth crime pricess has reached new highs this morning, with alarming figures confirming offenses are on the rise. You're not the arrest joy ride stolen black Audi coming to a dramatic end at Castle Gynoff.

One of these juveniles is a prolific, serious repeat offender.

One of these juveniles is a prolific, serious repeat offender.

This is the start of a robbery. The shop attendant just doesn't know it yet, that is until their casual conversations take a sinister tod It's one of these teenagers appears to be armed. A woman tries pleading with them.

This is the start of a robbery. The shop attendant just doesn't know it yet, that is until their casual conversations take a sinister tod It's one of these teenagers appears to be armed. A woman tries pleading with them.

Lee's story is extreme, but every day we hear stories of youth offenders stealing cars, breaking into houses, carjackings and knife crime. In the year twenty twenty three to twenty four in Queensland, there were over three thy three hundred children between ten and seventeen years old who committed a proven offense. Sixty eight percent of those reoffended within twelve months. Sixty two percent of the crime in Queensland was around property, seven percent of that crime was violent, and four percent of it had drug involvement. Remember these are kids between ten and seventeen years old. There's growing community anger over Queensland's youth crime crisis after a woman was held at knife point in her own home. It's a really complex issue, with over eighty percent of youth offenders admitting to substance abuse. Thirty eight percent of those have used ice or meth. Almost half don't go to school or have a job, or have been impacted by domestic and family violence. As I said, it's a really complex issue. I can tell your firsthand the feeling that you get when someone gets into your safe space, your home, or your car. This is nothing like Lee's story, but it's still affected me and my family, and I'm going to let my wife Katie tell the story. Yeah.

Lee's story is extreme, but every day we hear stories of youth offenders stealing cars, breaking into houses, carjackings and knife crime. In the year twenty twenty three to twenty four in Queensland, there were over three thy three hundred children between ten and seventeen years old who committed a proven offense. Sixty eight percent of those reoffended within twelve months. Sixty two percent of the crime in Queensland was around property, seven percent of that crime was violent, and four percent of it had drug involvement. Remember these are kids between ten and seventeen years old. There's growing community anger over Queensland's youth crime crisis after a woman was held at knife point in her own home. It's a really complex issue, with over eighty percent of youth offenders admitting to substance abuse. Thirty eight percent of those have used ice or meth. Almost half don't go to school or have a job, or have been impacted by domestic and family violence. As I said, it's a really complex issue. I can tell your firsthand the feeling that you get when someone gets into your safe space, your home, or your car. This is nothing like Lee's story, but it's still affected me and my family, and I'm going to let my wife Katie tell the story. Yeah.

So for me, it was simple. I was on holiday and had a pet sitter looking after our pets. She called one morning to ask me to check the security cameras because she thought that her car had been broken into. We checked and at seven fifty five am on a Friday morning, in the middle of school holidays, with two cars parked in the driveway as a man he was wearing a black Puma hoodie. On the camera, he reaches down to his ankle to get something. It's grainy, so we can't really see what it is, but looks like maybe a knife or a screwdriver. Then he goes back to his pocket and pulls out a white glove. He's not bothered that it's in the middle of the morning, like he could probably see the security camera. He's not done anything to disguise himself. He looks like he's young, possibly under eighteen. He looks into the car and then he's disturbed, so he jumps into the neighbor's yard over a one point eight meter fence, and then he disappears from our cameras for two minutes and twenty two seconds, and then he appears again, this time in our backyard. Our back camera's now picking him up, so he must have tried the neighbor's doors and not got in. He then walks around to our laundry sliding door. The camera down the side gate grabs a perfect picture of his face. He tries the door, no luck. Our dog spots him. She's barking. He then goes to another back door. She keeps barking. He tries the door and opens the slider, but luckily it has a security screen and he can't get in. You can see him on the camera occasionally hiding. We didn't know why until later. It was because the pets that are inside with making toast. She was getting ready for work, so he's been watching her, not bothered, just watching and waiting. So the dog keeps barking. He jumps the fence again. Next time we see him on the front camera again by the car. He tries the door and gets in. He quickly rummages in the car using his gloved hand, being careful not to leave fingerprints, so it's clear this isn't his first time. He gets a few things from the car, nothing really valuable, then runs to the front door of the house, tries the front door, no luck, and then just as quickly as he arrives, he's gone, the whole episode taking less than eight minutes.

So for me, it was simple. I was on holiday and had a pet sitter looking after our pets. She called one morning to ask me to check the security cameras because she thought that her car had been broken into. We checked and at seven fifty five am on a Friday morning, in the middle of school holidays, with two cars parked in the driveway as a man he was wearing a black Puma hoodie. On the camera, he reaches down to his ankle to get something. It's grainy, so we can't really see what it is, but looks like maybe a knife or a screwdriver. Then he goes back to his pocket and pulls out a white glove. He's not bothered that it's in the middle of the morning, like he could probably see the security camera. He's not done anything to disguise himself. He looks like he's young, possibly under eighteen. He looks into the car and then he's disturbed, so he jumps into the neighbor's yard over a one point eight meter fence, and then he disappears from our cameras for two minutes and twenty two seconds, and then he appears again, this time in our backyard. Our back camera's now picking him up, so he must have tried the neighbor's doors and not got in. He then walks around to our laundry sliding door. The camera down the side gate grabs a perfect picture of his face. He tries the door, no luck. Our dog spots him. She's barking. He then goes to another back door. She keeps barking. He tries the door and opens the slider, but luckily it has a security screen and he can't get in. You can see him on the camera occasionally hiding. We didn't know why until later. It was because the pets that are inside with making toast. She was getting ready for work, so he's been watching her, not bothered, just watching and waiting. So the dog keeps barking. He jumps the fence again. Next time we see him on the front camera again by the car. He tries the door and gets in. He quickly rummages in the car using his gloved hand, being careful not to leave fingerprints, so it's clear this isn't his first time. He gets a few things from the car, nothing really valuable, then runs to the front door of the house, tries the front door, no luck, and then just as quickly as he arrives, he's gone, the whole episode taking less than eight minutes.

Now, as I said, that story is not to compare it to Lee's story, but to talk about how it changed things for us afterwards. We weren't at home, we're on holidays, but the image of a man in a hoodie in our backyard standing where we hang out our washing freaked us out. When we got back home. It took us weeks to actually go outside to hang out the washing again, and that was after we installed more cameras and put up some other new security measures in our home. And I bought a baseball bat for under the bed. Stupid, I know, because would I ever use it? Probably not? So why do we need to do this? We don't live in America where people carry guns. We live in a quiet suburb of Brisbane, a place where I would leave the back door unlocked while the kids were in the pool or I was cooking a barbie. I might leave the garage door open while I was mowing the lawn or moving shopping inside from the car. I used to leave my garage remote in the car because it was easy. But because of this one guy, all that's changed and our story isn't unique. So while in this story we're going to tell you the story of Lee and Emma and the pain and tragedy and the aftermath their family, it has a subtext to it. Why is this happening in Queensland, the worst state in Australia for youth crime. What's being done about it? And is it enough? Can we learn from anyone else? And when does it change? And I guess the big question is who's to blame. The idea of this podcast was to highlight these stories to make them real. It's not about scaring you, it's about saying, now, more than ever, they could happen to anyone. Lee and his family were normal people, living a normal life when something like this changed their lives forever. In May twenty twenty four, the seventeen year old that murdered Lee's wife in their home was sentenced. We'll talk about that sentence with Lee shortly, but first let's understand why Lee and Emma moved to Brisbane from the UK in the first place.

Now, as I said, that story is not to compare it to Lee's story, but to talk about how it changed things for us afterwards. We weren't at home, we're on holidays, but the image of a man in a hoodie in our backyard standing where we hang out our washing freaked us out. When we got back home. It took us weeks to actually go outside to hang out the washing again, and that was after we installed more cameras and put up some other new security measures in our home. And I bought a baseball bat for under the bed. Stupid, I know, because would I ever use it? Probably not? So why do we need to do this? We don't live in America where people carry guns. We live in a quiet suburb of Brisbane, a place where I would leave the back door unlocked while the kids were in the pool or I was cooking a barbie. I might leave the garage door open while I was mowing the lawn or moving shopping inside from the car. I used to leave my garage remote in the car because it was easy. But because of this one guy, all that's changed and our story isn't unique. So while in this story we're going to tell you the story of Lee and Emma and the pain and tragedy and the aftermath their family, it has a subtext to it. Why is this happening in Queensland, the worst state in Australia for youth crime. What's being done about it? And is it enough? Can we learn from anyone else? And when does it change? And I guess the big question is who's to blame. The idea of this podcast was to highlight these stories to make them real. It's not about scaring you, it's about saying, now, more than ever, they could happen to anyone. Lee and his family were normal people, living a normal life when something like this changed their lives forever. In May twenty twenty four, the seventeen year old that murdered Lee's wife in their home was sentenced. We'll talk about that sentence with Lee shortly, but first let's understand why Lee and Emma moved to Brisbane from the UK in the first place.

Emma and I met when she was like nineteen and I was like twenty one. I think back then she used toll working like the job center back in Ipswich and the UK. We got sort of set up via a friend, you know, a typical thing. I was like, oh, I got any single friends, and then she's like, yeah, come back on Wednesday when the Wednesday Night went round, and then Emma was there and we sort of met a bit, you know, and then and then the Friday night the Frauvers went out. And I was never very good at with the girls back then that you know, and you know, like her friend, Emma's friend Christina, you know, and she's like, you gotta do something, I know, if you know, like shut up something like it's just pressure me into this that, you know.

Emma and I met when she was like nineteen and I was like twenty one. I think back then she used toll working like the job center back in Ipswich and the UK. We got sort of set up via a friend, you know, a typical thing. I was like, oh, I got any single friends, and then she's like, yeah, come back on Wednesday when the Wednesday Night went round, and then Emma was there and we sort of met a bit, you know, and then and then the Friday night the Frauvers went out. And I was never very good at with the girls back then that you know, and you know, like her friend, Emma's friend Christina, you know, and she's like, you gotta do something, I know, if you know, like shut up something like it's just pressure me into this that, you know.

But yeah, it's sort of to start from there. And then.

But yeah, it's sort of to start from there. And then.

But yeah, Emma was always very focused on work and learning and trying to improve herself. And she got into doing like accounts and then.

But yeah, Emma was always very focused on work and learning and trying to improve herself. And she got into doing like accounts and then.

Was then for a while they're doing like.

Was then for a while they're doing like.

An evening course, you know, to get her qualifications up in accounts and that sort of stuff.

An evening course, you know, to get her qualifications up in accounts and that sort of stuff.

And then I guess what sort of personality.

And then I guess what sort of personality.

She was quite shy really, you know, I didn't really like to put herself out there too much. And but I suppose the two of us together, you know, she was quite chatty and quite a fun person to be around, and just I don't know, isundily arrant here, but like vary into me and you know, and then eventually like with our kids, and I think she was just almost like born to be our mum. So she wanted to be to a certain extent. And I would have given her life for a kids now, you know. And so you've got two kids.

She was quite shy really, you know, I didn't really like to put herself out there too much. And but I suppose the two of us together, you know, she was quite chatty and quite a fun person to be around, and just I don't know, isundily arrant here, but like vary into me and you know, and then eventually like with our kids, and I think she was just almost like born to be our mum. So she wanted to be to a certain extent. And I would have given her life for a kids now, you know. And so you've got two kids.

Uh.

Uh.

Scarlett was born in two thousand and seven and Cassie was born in two thousand and nine.

Scarlett was born in two thousand and seven and Cassie was born in two thousand and nine.

What was Emma like as mum.

What was Emma like as mum.

Yeah, like I said, just a sort of devoted mum really and just trying to do everything we can to provide as much as we can for them and give them the best life we could.

Yeah, like I said, just a sort of devoted mum really and just trying to do everything we can to provide as much as we can for them and give them the best life we could.

Really.

Really.

So at what stage do you think, you know what Australia might be the place to go.

So at what stage do you think, you know what Australia might be the place to go.

I was so we'd had Cassie at that time, and you know, Emma was at home.

I was so we'd had Cassie at that time, and you know, Emma was at home.

I'm maternity to leave because.

I'm maternity to leave because.

She went back to work after having Scarlet and then then we had Cassie and then she was off for like I think back, you get like nine months off or something, and I remember like she went back to work. I think she's only back at work like a day, and she was like I don't want to I don't want to leave her in childcare. I'm like, I'll just don't go back to work. Then I'll work and you stay at home. And yeah, that's how it happened for us really, but then for Australia, like I was at work one day and she just finded about the blue and she's like, we hadn't really talked about this.

She went back to work after having Scarlet and then then we had Cassie and then she was off for like I think back, you get like nine months off or something, and I remember like she went back to work. I think she's only back at work like a day, and she was like I don't want to I don't want to leave her in childcare. I'm like, I'll just don't go back to work. Then I'll work and you stay at home. And yeah, that's how it happened for us really, but then for Australia, like I was at work one day and she just finded about the blue and she's like, we hadn't really talked about this.

You know, we had things.

You know, we had things.

We had been traveling to Australia back in two thousand and two, so we both had a little understanding about what Australia was like. But then she phoned me up and was just we can get visas or permanent residency visas to Australia, okay, And She's like, back then, the one we had was trying to get was you needed one hundred and twenty points to get PR and we could get like one hundred and twenty five with my trade.

We had been traveling to Australia back in two thousand and two, so we both had a little understanding about what Australia was like. But then she phoned me up and was just we can get visas or permanent residency visas to Australia, okay, And She's like, back then, the one we had was trying to get was you needed one hundred and twenty points to get PR and we could get like one hundred and twenty five with my trade.

And all that sort of stuff.

And all that sort of stuff.

And I was like, because then she was saying, oh, you don't need to get even if you get visa straight away, you don't have to leave straight away. You've got like a five year period that you need to end in the country, buy something like well, it's a start it, you know. Then that was like early two thousand and eight, and then by that point the whole like GFC had like kicked in, and then you know, my.

And I was like, because then she was saying, oh, you don't need to get even if you get visa straight away, you don't have to leave straight away. You've got like a five year period that you need to end in the country, buy something like well, it's a start it, you know. Then that was like early two thousand and eight, and then by that point the whole like GFC had like kicked in, and then you know, my.

Trade got put on hold and then it wasn't.

Trade got put on hold and then it wasn't.

Until like twenty eleven when things start to improve. And then because within that, you know, between two and two eleven, I discovered what seek, so I was often looking on there for and then we sort of sort of settled on we want to go to Brisbane.

Until like twenty eleven when things start to improve. And then because within that, you know, between two and two eleven, I discovered what seek, so I was often looking on there for and then we sort of sort of settled on we want to go to Brisbane.

And then.

And then.

Well, because I think at the time we thought that we couldn't really we never had done like the West Coast, you know, but like.

Well, because I think at the time we thought that we couldn't really we never had done like the West Coast, you know, but like.

We couldn't really afford like Sydney. Like everyone we knew, we probably couldn't afford it.

We couldn't really afford like Sydney. Like everyone we knew, we probably couldn't afford it.

To move there, whereas it probably would have been a more at times, so maybe thought it would have been the nicer place or a better place to go. But then you know, I suppose when we were traveling we both liked Brisbane.

To move there, whereas it probably would have been a more at times, so maybe thought it would have been the nicer place or a better place to go. But then you know, I suppose when we were traveling we both liked Brisbane.

At the time.

At the time.

And then and this one job come up for like roseland demolition. They're down in Bango, and yeah, so I just emailed and said, you know, I've just got my pr we're in the press of selling our house. I'm applying for the job. So they replied and we had a chat on Skye thing he offered me the job. So I got I got to Australia on the fourth of November, and I think I then started work on the on the seventh, which was the Monday.

And then and this one job come up for like roseland demolition. They're down in Bango, and yeah, so I just emailed and said, you know, I've just got my pr we're in the press of selling our house. I'm applying for the job. So they replied and we had a chat on Skye thing he offered me the job. So I got I got to Australia on the fourth of November, and I think I then started work on the on the seventh, which was the Monday.

I said, I was like staying with my boss at the time, and.

I said, I was like staying with my boss at the time, and.

So Lee and Emma moved to Australia. In fact, Lee comes out first to start his job, and Emma has told him that she's not moving out with the kids until he finds a house. Lee needs to find a place quick, so he decides Ont Lakes. It's an area that's growing fast. Your houses everywhere, shopping centers, schools going up, and it's not too far from the Sunny Coast and the city of Brisbane.

So Lee and Emma moved to Australia. In fact, Lee comes out first to start his job, and Emma has told him that she's not moving out with the kids until he finds a house. Lee needs to find a place quick, so he decides Ont Lakes. It's an area that's growing fast. Your houses everywhere, shopping centers, schools going up, and it's not too far from the Sunny Coast and the city of Brisbane.

It sounds funny, but it was probably like the hardest three weeks of my life. You know. You think that, like you're.

It sounds funny, but it was probably like the hardest three weeks of my life. You know. You think that, like you're.

Confident and strong and emotional, I suppose to make that leap into a new country, but.

Confident and strong and emotional, I suppose to make that leap into a new country, but.

I don't know.

I don't know.

It was just so hard without her, like, you know, her being my support, you know, and I don't know, it was really really challenging not having her here for those three weeks, you know. And I was so grateful when she turned up, you know, and you know, it's not just it's not just like moving house. You move in country people new town, don't know where anyone is, don't know anything that moment, you know, and not having her here was like so hard. Like maybe I never told her how hard I found it, but yeah, that was really hard. Really, So yeah, before we left, you know, again, like looking online, Emma had heard about North Lakes there's obviously a lot of English moving here, and so my boss lived in dunder So like at the weekend's predominantly I was sort of driving up here to North Lakes and just having a look around, driving around, and then Emma stipulation was like, I'm not moving over until we've got us a house, you know. So that's why I was a bit desperate to find somewhere and get all the forms put in water. So yeah, as soon as I phoned her up and says, look, I've got this place, then she booked the tickets like straight away. So, and what did you like about North Lakes when you first come up? I suppose I thought it was quite a nice area. It was nice because the shops. You know, it's before the shops got extended, you know, but the shops are pretty big, and you know, like I suppose I liked it. I still like that now because I like the way you can sort of come off the highway and it's like its own suburb.

It was just so hard without her, like, you know, her being my support, you know, and I don't know, it was really really challenging not having her here for those three weeks, you know. And I was so grateful when she turned up, you know, and you know, it's not just it's not just like moving house. You move in country people new town, don't know where anyone is, don't know anything that moment, you know, and not having her here was like so hard. Like maybe I never told her how hard I found it, but yeah, that was really hard. Really, So yeah, before we left, you know, again, like looking online, Emma had heard about North Lakes there's obviously a lot of English moving here, and so my boss lived in dunder So like at the weekend's predominantly I was sort of driving up here to North Lakes and just having a look around, driving around, and then Emma stipulation was like, I'm not moving over until we've got us a house, you know. So that's why I was a bit desperate to find somewhere and get all the forms put in water. So yeah, as soon as I phoned her up and says, look, I've got this place, then she booked the tickets like straight away. So, and what did you like about North Lakes when you first come up? I suppose I thought it was quite a nice area. It was nice because the shops. You know, it's before the shops got extended, you know, but the shops are pretty big, and you know, like I suppose I liked it. I still like that now because I like the way you can sort of come off the highway and it's like its own suburb.

You know.

You know.

It's like there's a lot of suburbs, you know, or towards towards the city. You know, they all just sort of blend into one, didn't they. Because you're driving through those main roads. But I always found that North Thanks got to come off and it's his own area, and there's a nice little parks around and nice modern houses and that sort of stuff that you know, And yeah, I had no issues with it when we first started looking around.

It's like there's a lot of suburbs, you know, or towards towards the city. You know, they all just sort of blend into one, didn't they. Because you're driving through those main roads. But I always found that North Thanks got to come off and it's his own area, and there's a nice little parks around and nice modern houses and that sort of stuff that you know, And yeah, I had no issues with it when we first started looking around.

As I drove up to Lee's house to record the interview, the same house that his wife was killed in, it reminded me of a small English village. About a kilometer away from their house is the police station. There's the Mengo Hill Police station, which is literally, yeah, less than four minutes away from their house.

As I drove up to Lee's house to record the interview, the same house that his wife was killed in, it reminded me of a small English village. About a kilometer away from their house is the police station. There's the Mengo Hill Police station, which is literally, yeah, less than four minutes away from their house.

It's a beautiful area.

It's a beautiful area.

So why was Lee's house targeted? Was it random or was it more than that? Why did two seventeen year olds break into Lee's house and not anyone else's. We'll get to that shortly, but let's go back to Christmas twenty twenty two, the last Christmas that Emma spent with her family.

So why was Lee's house targeted? Was it random or was it more than that? Why did two seventeen year olds break into Lee's house and not anyone else's. We'll get to that shortly, but let's go back to Christmas twenty twenty two, the last Christmas that Emma spent with her family.

Leading up to that, Like, we're generally gone around like a friends a friends of ours sort of the few roads away, and we generally spent like Christmas Day for them. But they they didn't want to do Christmas dinner, and so they suggested like down at the lake. There was like a boarderwalk hotel. You could do like one of these like two hour sort of Christmas dinner things for four hour things, but it was a lot of money, and we said that, you know, we don't want to do that, Like, you know, if you guys want to do that and then come around of ours afterwards, then you know, feel free. And then a little bit later on it was like, I want, don't we go to the beach insteads you know, I was like, I don't really want to do that, you know, I just want us to be at home, but you know, and then I thought there'd be a bit more about a local beach, but we ended up going to Point Ark right up on the Sunshine Coast, and it was it was quite a enjoyable day.

Leading up to that, Like, we're generally gone around like a friends a friends of ours sort of the few roads away, and we generally spent like Christmas Day for them. But they they didn't want to do Christmas dinner, and so they suggested like down at the lake. There was like a boarderwalk hotel. You could do like one of these like two hour sort of Christmas dinner things for four hour things, but it was a lot of money, and we said that, you know, we don't want to do that, Like, you know, if you guys want to do that and then come around of ours afterwards, then you know, feel free. And then a little bit later on it was like, I want, don't we go to the beach insteads you know, I was like, I don't really want to do that, you know, I just want us to be at home, but you know, and then I thought there'd be a bit more about a local beach, but we ended up going to Point Ark right up on the Sunshine Coast, and it was it was quite a enjoyable day.

Actually, you know that it was a bit sort of overcast, but still quite warm.

Actually, you know that it was a bit sort of overcast, but still quite warm.

And it's bizarre because it's Christmas Day and you just have always liked spent at home to be at the beach, and you know, but it was a nice day, you know, like I said, it was. We had a bit of a laugh and a joke and then sort of came back and then you know, our friends came around ours afterwards and had some drinks and that sort of stuff. Yeah, like Christmas Day was quite a nice day, you know.

And it's bizarre because it's Christmas Day and you just have always liked spent at home to be at the beach, and you know, but it was a nice day, you know, like I said, it was. We had a bit of a laugh and a joke and then sort of came back and then you know, our friends came around ours afterwards and had some drinks and that sort of stuff. Yeah, like Christmas Day was quite a nice day, you know.

And the kids at the stage are I guess thirteen and fifteen. Yeah, and so Chris was pretty exciting for kids at that age, right, not as exciting as is when they're eight and ten.

And the kids at the stage are I guess thirteen and fifteen. Yeah, and so Chris was pretty exciting for kids at that age, right, not as exciting as is when they're eight and ten.

Yeah, but like Emma always made it really nice for them, and you know, like I didn't sounds funny, but like I don't know, like a lot of guys maybe like I didn't always know what like Ema had got, like I don't know why, but she just went off and got he's the presents and you know, always made the day nice for the girls. And even at that age, you know, there was a stocking where you know, that stocking was the presence decide we from Santa, you know. Then everything else was from us, you know, and it was always you know, the stuff from center was things like canna coke or you know, some socks or underwear, I don't know, just stuff like that, you know, and then always like bigger stuff maybe more expensive, but we're from US and that sort of stuff.

Yeah, but like Emma always made it really nice for them, and you know, like I didn't sounds funny, but like I don't know, like a lot of guys maybe like I didn't always know what like Ema had got, like I don't know why, but she just went off and got he's the presents and you know, always made the day nice for the girls. And even at that age, you know, there was a stocking where you know, that stocking was the presence decide we from Santa, you know. Then everything else was from us, you know, and it was always you know, the stuff from center was things like canna coke or you know, some socks or underwear, I don't know, just stuff like that, you know, and then always like bigger stuff maybe more expensive, but we're from US and that sort of stuff.

You know.

You know.

So yeah, she always made it like pretty nice, like for the girls. I was suppose we did, really, you know, but then we'd because like Scarlet was seeing a like a boy at the time. So I think for like the twenty seventh, we'd planned on having like Christmas dinner that day because of missing out on having Christmas dinner on Christmas Day because we just cooked like bacon and eggs at the beach, took a little like gast over as you know, and cooked up. And so I think we were planning on going to the shops on the twenty seventh thing to get food for you know.

So yeah, she always made it like pretty nice, like for the girls. I was suppose we did, really, you know, but then we'd because like Scarlet was seeing a like a boy at the time. So I think for like the twenty seventh, we'd planned on having like Christmas dinner that day because of missing out on having Christmas dinner on Christmas Day because we just cooked like bacon and eggs at the beach, took a little like gast over as you know, and cooked up. And so I think we were planning on going to the shops on the twenty seventh thing to get food for you know.

That day and that sort of stuff. But you know, obviously like we never got any really, so.

That day and that sort of stuff. But you know, obviously like we never got any really, so.

So Boxing Day what traditionally, what what do you do on Boxing Day?

So Boxing Day what traditionally, what what do you do on Boxing Day?

Well, that day, Scarlet I want to go around and see her boyfriend at the time. So we all drove to you know, sort of scar but dropped her off and then am I and Cassie when you've been down at the front there it was like a little cafe and we got like a there's a coffee and I remember it being such a such a windy day but so hot as well, and you know, I was trying to sort of keep under an umbrella of the trying and sort of keep out of the sun, and then you know, we sort of had a coffee, then sort of had a bit of walk along the front and then I think we must have then sort of come back to the shops, got some more food or something and whatever, and then sort of come home. And then I don't think we really left after that. So yeah, that evening and we sort of like cooked tea and then we ended up just like watching a film and it finished about nine thirty and then so yeah, like I.

Well, that day, Scarlet I want to go around and see her boyfriend at the time. So we all drove to you know, sort of scar but dropped her off and then am I and Cassie when you've been down at the front there it was like a little cafe and we got like a there's a coffee and I remember it being such a such a windy day but so hot as well, and you know, I was trying to sort of keep under an umbrella of the trying and sort of keep out of the sun, and then you know, we sort of had a coffee, then sort of had a bit of walk along the front and then I think we must have then sort of come back to the shops, got some more food or something and whatever, and then sort of come home. And then I don't think we really left after that. So yeah, that evening and we sort of like cooked tea and then we ended up just like watching a film and it finished about nine thirty and then so yeah, like I.

Sort of into bed. Like I said before, we were like reasonably tired and you know.

Sort of into bed. Like I said before, we were like reasonably tired and you know.

And I didn't want to start putting another film like nine to thirty like sort of the time, So the two of us just went to bed, and I thought Cassie did as well, but she must have stayed up like just watching Netflix on the ropead.

And I didn't want to start putting another film like nine to thirty like sort of the time, So the two of us just went to bed, and I thought Cassie did as well, but she must have stayed up like just watching Netflix on the ropead.

I just want to talk about the house if I can quickly. A single story house, master bedrooms down towards the front, is it.

I just want to talk about the house if I can quickly. A single story house, master bedrooms down towards the front, is it.

Yeah, See, if you're looking at front door, the master bedroom is on the right hand side, and then the left hand side of the hallway is then our living room.

Yeah, See, if you're looking at front door, the master bedroom is on the right hand side, and then the left hand side of the hallway is then our living room.

Yeah, and then you walk down into this kitchen area where we are right now, and then off to the corridor is I'm guessing bathrooms.

Yeah, and then you walk down into this kitchen area where we are right now, and then off to the corridor is I'm guessing bathrooms.

Yeah, three bedrooms and a bathroom from aud you know, see a couple of dogs walking around. The dogs were.

Yeah, three bedrooms and a bathroom from aud you know, see a couple of dogs walking around. The dogs were.

Back then, like for a while, we had let the dogs sleep on a bed because our bigger look sheddy hair constantly. Like we just force them, like sleep in the kitchen. They've got a bed there and we've got those like fabric dog things that pull out, so you know, we sort of trap them in the kitchen at nighttime so they can't get through to the kids bedrooms or down the hallway so they can they can still get out of the night.

Back then, like for a while, we had let the dogs sleep on a bed because our bigger look sheddy hair constantly. Like we just force them, like sleep in the kitchen. They've got a bed there and we've got those like fabric dog things that pull out, so you know, we sort of trap them in the kitchen at nighttime so they can't get through to the kids bedrooms or down the hallway so they can they can still get out of the night.

Through the dog door, but you know, they just slept in the kitchen back then.

Through the dog door, but you know, they just slept in the kitchen back then.

I'm looking now, I can see a camera up in the in the roof in the kitchen. Here is that camera new camera or was that installed back in the day.

I'm looking now, I can see a camera up in the in the roof in the kitchen. Here is that camera new camera or was that installed back in the day.

No, that was put in like in January twenty one or something that sort of looked at our kitchen because that's we went away and we just want to make sure the dogs are okay. We could see them, so we added that one extra. But you know, we've got other cameras around the back of the house, and then there's that there's a camera that points at our front door, and then there's another camera that sort of shines over our driveway and then partly over my vehicle and then part over the garden at the front.

No, that was put in like in January twenty one or something that sort of looked at our kitchen because that's we went away and we just want to make sure the dogs are okay. We could see them, so we added that one extra. But you know, we've got other cameras around the back of the house, and then there's that there's a camera that points at our front door, and then there's another camera that sort of shines over our driveway and then partly over my vehicle and then part over the garden at the front.

There we use security conscious or like in this area, were were you aware of security or break ins or anything like that.

There we use security conscious or like in this area, were were you aware of security or break ins or anything like that.

I suppose I remember back then that you know, there had been.

I suppose I remember back then that you know, there had been.

House is sort of broken into and cars broken into. I think the reason we put the cameras in is because the kids were getting to a bit older and Emma was starting to go out and like leave the kids at home, and yeah, we just want to make sure that we could sort of see around the house and then make sure no one was getting in and you know, for their safety.

House is sort of broken into and cars broken into. I think the reason we put the cameras in is because the kids were getting to a bit older and Emma was starting to go out and like leave the kids at home, and yeah, we just want to make sure that we could sort of see around the house and then make sure no one was getting in and you know, for their safety.

I think, you know, for hours to.

I think, you know, for hours to.

Check on them, not really because of an issue with you know, crime within the area. I think that's why we've got it done, if I remember rightly.

Check on them, not really because of an issue with you know, crime within the area. I think that's why we've got it done, if I remember rightly.

So, Yeah, while I'm in the house talk with Lee on this Sunday morning in North Lakes, his eldest daughter, Scarlett was sitting at the breakfast bench having breakfast. I think, to be honest, it was about giving her dad some moral support. Scarlett was there the night all of this happened to their family, and she also remembers the time before this night that she was scared in the house. This audio is a little bit harder to hear because Scarlett is sitting away from the microphones. You're also sparked up a bit more after you and mom walking the dogs one night and I messaged her saying that I felt like I was being watched from.

So, Yeah, while I'm in the house talk with Lee on this Sunday morning in North Lakes, his eldest daughter, Scarlett was sitting at the breakfast bench having breakfast. I think, to be honest, it was about giving her dad some moral support. Scarlett was there the night all of this happened to their family, and she also remembers the time before this night that she was scared in the house. This audio is a little bit harder to hear because Scarlett is sitting away from the microphones. You're also sparked up a bit more after you and mom walking the dogs one night and I messaged her saying that I felt like I was being watched from.

In my bedroom. Yeah, I do remember that. Yeah, And then.

In my bedroom. Yeah, I do remember that. Yeah, And then.

Like you guys then brought up the topic of getting cameras because I mentioned that. Yeah, I don't know whether anyone was there at a time or not, but that's what Scarlett said, So it sort of made us sort of want to put the cameras in. So, yeah, I just bought the kit from Jaca, and between member and I we sort of installed ourselves, you know.

Like you guys then brought up the topic of getting cameras because I mentioned that. Yeah, I don't know whether anyone was there at a time or not, but that's what Scarlett said, So it sort of made us sort of want to put the cameras in. So, yeah, I just bought the kit from Jaca, and between member and I we sort of installed ourselves, you know.

Yeah, you go to bed about nine thirty boxing day night, talk to me about what happens.

Yeah, you go to bed about nine thirty boxing day night, talk to me about what happens.

It's about sort of eleven thirty, and like I said, we were both sort of both asleep, and then our little dog predominantly that I remember, like her barking, and sometimes I both dogs have barked in the past and you know, maybe there's a dog over the road starts bike and so ours do. And you know, neverbody concerned me too much. And then I don't know, well, they'd hear annoise outside, but then sometimes they would bark, and then a couple of minutes late and they'd sort.

It's about sort of eleven thirty, and like I said, we were both sort of both asleep, and then our little dog predominantly that I remember, like her barking, and sometimes I both dogs have barked in the past and you know, maybe there's a dog over the road starts bike and so ours do. And you know, neverbody concerned me too much. And then I don't know, well, they'd hear annoise outside, but then sometimes they would bark, and then a couple of minutes late and they'd sort.

Of settle down.

Of settle down.

A few seconds late, we woud settle down, and you'd just drift drift off back to sleep again and owned up. Pepper kept barking and barking and barking and wouldn't stop, and he carried on a bit more. And then so I was sort of, you know, i'd sort of winking up and then and then sort of just turned over and looked at Emma and she sort of laying on her back in bed, and then you know, see her on her phone, and she was like front door open, and I didn't I didn't even cross my mind that like someone was in the house. But I just wanted to get up to like shut the door to make sure no one was going to get in the house, because we had had issues at least once or twice where you know, the door was pushed to but even like one Saturday, random we were sitting in the front room and then like the door just opened and the door run away. Oh maybe maybe the door hasn't been pushed too properly and it's come open. So you know, I suppose within the blink of an eye toimething, that's the thought that goes through your mind, like just get up and close the door.

A few seconds late, we woud settle down, and you'd just drift drift off back to sleep again and owned up. Pepper kept barking and barking and barking and wouldn't stop, and he carried on a bit more. And then so I was sort of, you know, i'd sort of winking up and then and then sort of just turned over and looked at Emma and she sort of laying on her back in bed, and then you know, see her on her phone, and she was like front door open, and I didn't I didn't even cross my mind that like someone was in the house. But I just wanted to get up to like shut the door to make sure no one was going to get in the house, because we had had issues at least once or twice where you know, the door was pushed to but even like one Saturday, random we were sitting in the front room and then like the door just opened and the door run away. Oh maybe maybe the door hasn't been pushed too properly and it's come open. So you know, I suppose within the blink of an eye toimething, that's the thought that goes through your mind, like just get up and close the door.

So yeah, sort of, you know, because my side.

So yeah, sort of, you know, because my side.

Had been I suppose it's slightly closer than him, as I suppose, but I think we both like rushed to the.

Had been I suppose it's slightly closer than him, as I suppose, but I think we both like rushed to the.

Door, and it wasn't if she laid in bed.

Door, and it wasn't if she laid in bed.

We both rushed to the door, and you know, I opened up the bedroom door.

We both rushed to the door, and you know, I opened up the bedroom door.

And yeah, there was like this guy sort of standing right in front of the bedroom door. And then I remember seeing the second guy.

And yeah, there was like this guy sort of standing right in front of the bedroom door. And then I remember seeing the second guy.

He was in our living room where our sofa is, and then he was then walking back towards the hallway or then coming back towards the hallway in the next episode, Like I thought that as we sort of come out the door and then try to sort of hang off like around his neck, and then I think I sort of slipped and then as I went on to the ground, and then he sort of then kicked me twice maybe three times.

He was in our living room where our sofa is, and then he was then walking back towards the hallway or then coming back towards the hallway in the next episode, Like I thought that as we sort of come out the door and then try to sort of hang off like around his neck, and then I think I sort of slipped and then as I went on to the ground, and then he sort of then kicked me twice maybe three times.

I think at least like twice in her face. And then.

I think at least like twice in her face. And then.

And the next thing, I know, I looked at Emma and she was like this, you know, sort of she'd moved a bit, but like she was on in front of me, like laying on the floor with her back to me, you know, so you know, and it was a bit of a shock to like see her there because I was like, you know, second ago, she was like standing up, but standing in front of me there. And next thing, she's lay on the floor in case he come back with the phone, and you know, she was like, mummy's bleeding, and I remember, like, what do you mean she's bleeding?

And the next thing, I know, I looked at Emma and she was like this, you know, sort of she'd moved a bit, but like she was on in front of me, like laying on the floor with her back to me, you know, so you know, and it was a bit of a shock to like see her there because I was like, you know, second ago, she was like standing up, but standing in front of me there. And next thing, she's lay on the floor in case he come back with the phone, and you know, she was like, mummy's bleeding, and I remember, like, what do you mean she's bleeding?

And then was over. I sort of kneeled over and looked at her.

And then was over. I sort of kneeled over and looked at her.

Left side and he was here, our left side of the ninety dislike actually the sucking blood.

Left side and he was here, our left side of the ninety dislike actually the sucking blood.

And then that panic sets in and then

And then that panic sets in and then