15yo boy accused of killing Universal Store co-founder Greg Josephson in Brisbane could face life in jail

The multi-millionaire allegedly murdered in his own home during a teenage house party has been remembered as an “incredibly intelligent businessman”.

The tributes for slain father-of-three Greg Josephson come as the 15-year-old accused of stabbing him to death could face life in prison if convicted.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is facing a murder charge after he allegedly phoned police before he was arrested in a street nearby the exclusive Brisbane suburb of Clayfield, where Mr Josephson was found dead on Thursday night.

The teen was known to Mr Josephson.

Police say Mr Josephson was killed with a household item in his $5.4 million 1930s mansion and the alleged murder weapon had been recovered.

“There was some sort of altercation that’s resulted in this 58-year-old male tragically losing his life,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said at the weekend.

“It’s not a case of carrying knives, it’s unfortunately allotted in a home.”

Inspector Jane Healy said the 15-year-old was the only person aware of what happened.

“It’s still extremely early and the situation was quite chaotic, confusing and confronting when police arrived,” she said on Friday.

Under the State Government’s Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) laws introduced last year, the boy could be facing life behind bars, instead of the 10-year term he would face if convicted as a child.

The boy, who is remanded in custody, will next face court in September.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli declined to speculate on whether the boy would be subject to the new laws.

“When things like this happen, there’s a deep sense of remorse,” he said on Friday. “Let the courts do their job.”

Mr Josephson, who co-founded youth fashion chain Universal Store with his brother in 1999 before selling it in 2018 for $100 million, was in the process of moving to the Sunshine Coast when he died.

He and his wife Tamra had listed the property, boasting six-bedrooms, six bathrooms and a pool for sale last month.

“It’s devastating, it’s just a huge loss to everybody,” a friend told The Sunday Mail.

“He was a nice person to be around, he was an incredibly intelligent businessman.

“They’re just a lovely, quiet family. It’s a huge loss and I’m having a lot of difficulty reconciling it in my head.

“I feel besides myself to be honest, I am feeling gutted for the family.”

The family was well-liked and the community has vowed to rally around Mr Josephson’s partner.

“They’re so well loved that there will be a lot of support in the community for her,” the friend said.

Other friends said he was “the nicest guy” with one friend recalling how they worked as DJs together during their university days.

“(He was) always smiling,” the friend said.

“It’s really rocked me ... really, really sad.”

Another friend described having children at the same time as Mr Josephson, saying he kept her “motivated” despite the exhaustion of early motherhood.

“I always appreciated that” she said.

“Always a gentleman to me. Rest well, good man.”

Mr Josephson was the owner of the Noosa Reef Hotel, which he purchased for nearly $14 million in 2021, among other multimillion-dollar property holdings in Queensland.

With 7NEWS