Horror new details revealed after multi-millionaire CEO allegedly killed by teen while Brisbane house party took place

Sky News AU

9 hours ago

Shock new details have been revealed after 58-year-old CEO Greg Josephson was allegedly fatally stabbed at a house party in Brisbane.
Mr Josephson, the co-founder of the popular Universal Store clothing chain, was allegedly murdered when an altercation occurred at a party involving 30 young teens which took place downstairs in a $5.4 million mansion in Clayfield.
Mr Josephson was found critically injured on the top floor of his palatial property shortly after 8pm on Thursday and later died.
The teen was then arrested at 8:15pm in a nearby street after calling triple-0. He was later charged with one count of domestic violence murder.
New CCTV vision obtained by 7News allegedly showed the teen riffling through bins behind a café in Ascot about 8pm, shortly before he turned himself to authorities.
Multiple investigators and the dog squad were later seen carrying out searches at the Ascot café on Friday afternoon.
Detectives claimed Mr Josephson had been on the floor for hours, while over 30 teenagers partied downstairs unaware that the horrific crime had taken place.
The children at the party had their phones confiscated and were taken to the police station to be interrogated about the incident.
Neighbours who spoke to News.com.au said partygoers were frantically attempting to leave the house and that the party was so quiet they did not realise anyone was home.
'They were just like 'we want to go home, and we're not allowed to leave'," the neighbour said, adding that the children were 'devastated.'
Police said the scene was 'chaotic' and 'confronting' and that the children were visibly shaken.
'We are still establishing the timeline of what has happened at this address. There were about 30 young people here,' Inspector Jane Healy said.
Detective Acting Superintendent Craig Williams also confirmed on Friday that police had located the household implement allegedly used to commit the murder and that no other persons of interest had been taken into custody.
'It's very early days and understanding exactly why it has occurred and what has happened, the investigation is still under way,' Supt Williams said.
Mr Josephson co-founded the popular youth focussed clothing brand Universal Store with his brother Michael in 1999 and sold the business to a wealthy private equity firm in 2018 with the deal reportedly worth over $100 million.
Over the next two decades the company expanded to 53 stores nationwide and raked in an annual turnover of $244 million in 2024.
It holds a market cap of around $570 million on the ASX.
Mr Josephson also worked as a leasing executive for Westfield, Jones Lang LaSalle and Lend Lease and since 2018 was serving as chief executive of Josephson Holdings Pty while keeping a relatively low public profile.
The sprawling north Brisbane property along with the neighbouring lot was listed for sale on the market earlier this month, after Mr Josephson and his wife Tamra purchased the home in 2016 for $1.91 million.
The three-storey home boasts six bedrooms, six bathrooms, an outdoor pavilion, an alfresco dining area, and a pool, and was listed for expressions of interest on May 15.
The property also recently featured in a Courier Mail article, where Mr Josephson talked up renovations he and his wife had made in 2022, stating the makeover made the estate feel like a 'five-star-resort.'
'We love the fact it's six bedroom and there's just so much space, with all these breakout areas that you can enjoy. My wife and I can go and sit by our fireplace in the parents retreat and the kids can head to the casual downstairs area on the ground floor," he said.
'We were looking for a big family home and this was in very original condition. We're sad to sell but we're relocating to Noosa where we have a house and business interests. But we're proud that we went all out to create a once in a lifetime forever home, and that's what's on offer for someone now.'
The well-known entrepreneur also owned a $13.9m Noosa Reef Hotel, a group of cottages in Cooran worth $3.5m, a Noosa hinterland estate purchased for $5m in 2020 and $6.5m worth of properties on Eumundi Noosa Rd, Doonan.
Magistrate Megan Power ordered the defence to provide evidence no later than August 22, with the case adjourned to September 2 while the boy remained in custody after being refused bail.
Under Queensland's new "adult time adult crime laws", the teenager could face life behind bars if found guilty.