An Australian CEO was stabbed to death during a house party at his luxurious mansion on Thursday night as police charged a 15-year-old boy with murder.
Greg Josephson, who co-founded youth clothing company Universal Store with his brother Michael in 1999, was hosting the large gathering of approximately 30 teenagers at his house in the Brisbane suburb of Clayfield, according to police and multiple reports.
Josephson knew his alleged killer before the two got into an altercation at around 8:15 p.m., Queensland Police said, without naming the businessman and suspect.
The teen allegedly grabbed a household item to stab Josephson.
Police arrived at Josephson鈥檚 home to find the 58-year-old executive critically wounded. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities captured the teen two blocks south of Josephson鈥檚 home.
He was questioned and later charged with murder.
The unidentified teen was held without bail.
He was scheduled to appear in Brisbane Children鈥檚 Court on Friday morning.
Josephson purchased the six bedrooms, six bathrooms, three story home for $1.25 million in 2016.
The Clayfield enclave is worth an estimated $3.2 million following a 2022 renovation to make his abode feel like 鈥渇ive-star home,鈥 according to 7News.
Josephson had recently put the home on the market as he had planned to move his family two hours north to Noosa.
鈥淲e鈥檙e sad to sell but we鈥檙e relocating to Noosa where we have a house and business interests. But we鈥檙e proud that we went all out to create a once in a lifetime forever home, and that鈥檚 what鈥檚 on offer for someone now,鈥 he said
Universal Store specializes in trend-led clothing for men and women targeting ages 15 to 34, according to the website.
Since the 2018 sale Mr Josephson has been chief executive of Josephson Holdings Pty Ltd, according to his LinkedIn, but appears to have kept a relatively low public profile.
鈥淏efore I set out to open Universal Store here I went overseas to look at the UK and USA, particularly California, looking at the retail concepts there and then saw what was relevant in Australia,鈥 Josephson said.
The company announced Josephson鈥檚 death in a statement obtained by 9News.
鈥淲e wanted to share the sad news that Greg Josephson, who founded our company and played a significant role until 2018, has recently passed away.
Neighbors were left in shock over the high-profile killing, saying the party was very quiet before the stabbing.
鈥淚t was extremely quiet, I wouldn鈥檛 have even known there was a party going on last night,鈥 one neighbor told the Courier Mail.
鈥淭here was some sort of altercation that resulted in this 58-year-old male tragically losing his life,鈥 Queensland Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a case of carrying knives, it鈥檚 unfortunately allotted in a home,鈥 he added.
A new law was enacted in September 2024 banning minors from purchasing knives in the Australian state of Queensland.
With Post wires