Brutal new twist for the teenager accused of murdering the dad-of-three Universal Store boss at a house party in his ritzy mansion
The 15-year-old private schoolboy accused of murdering Universal Store co-founder Greg Josephson is having to rely on Legal Aid for his defence, despite a privileged upbringing.
The surprising twist comes as new details emerge about the shocking death of the multi-millionaire father-of-three at his $5million 1930s Art Deco mansion on June 26.
Mr Josephson, 58, allegedly discovered 30 teenagers had been invited on social media to an end-of-school term party at his home in Brisbane’s wealthy Clayfield.
At the time, his wife Tamra was away on the Sunshine Coast, where the family owns property and businesses, along with one or more of their children.
Mr Josephson was allegedly attacked in a room on the top floor of his home and stabbed to death with a knife and one other weapon.
The teen was known to Mr Josephson but cannot be identified and was a regular gym-goer who had attended three different private schools in recent years.
His wife later allegedly received a call in Noosa telling her that her husband had been injured, prompting her to ring emergency services.
Police arrived at the six-bedroom Brisbane home after 8.15pm and found Mr Josephson unresponsive in the upstairs room.
The 15-year-old boy charged with murdering multi-millionaire entrepreneur and Universal Store co-founder Greg Josephson (pictured with wife Tamra) is having to rely on Legal Aid
Greg Josephson, 58, allegedly discovered 30 teenagers had been invited to an end-of-school term party at his home in Brisbane’s wealthy Clayfield.
Greg Josephson was allegedly attacked in a room on the top floor of his home and stabbed to death with a knife and one other weapon
It is believed his body had lain there for several hours while the party continued downstairs.
Police ordered the teenagers at the Oriel Road property, which features a pool and two car spaces, to attend a station for questioning.
Officers later found the 15-year-old near bins at a local café on Barlow Street and took him into custody, before later charging him with murder.
He was refused bail, taken to hospital, and is now in juvenile detention.
In June, Legal Aid duty lawyer Peta Den requested an adjournment to obtain a brief of evidence for the defence.
For nearly two decades, Mr Josephson served as director of the Brisbane-based company he founded with his brother in 1999.
He had previously worked as a leasing manager at Westfield, Lendlease, and Jones Lang LaSalle but grew Universal into a retail giant in Australian shopping centres.
Universal Store grew from one store in Brisbane’s Carindale to 80 stores nationwide, becoming a youth fashion leader with annual revenue over $288 million.
Tamra Josephson (above) at the funeral for her husband Greg after he was allegedly murdered in his own home
Greg Josephson and his brother Michael sold Universal Store for $100 million to Five V Capital, Catalyst Direct Capital Management, and BBRC Worldwide in 2018
Greg Josephson (left, his funeral order of service) established Universal Store with his brother Michael in November 1999. He and wife Tamra (pictured together, right) had three children and were planning to sell their Clayfield house and move to Noosa
The company is currently valued at $573.1 million on the Australian share market.
In September 2018, the Josephson brothers sold Universal Store for $100 million to Five V Capital, Catalyst Direct Capital Management, and BBRC Worldwide.
The 15-year-old charged with Mr Josephson’s murder will return to Brisbane Children’s Court in early September.
