An Australian business executive was fatally stabbed during a house party at his upscale residence on Thursday evening. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder. The victim, Greg Josephson, was a co-founder of the youth clothing brand Universal Store, which he established with his brother Michael in 1999. The incident occurred at Josephson’s home in the Brisbane suburb of Clayfield, where he was hosting a party for around 30 teenagers.
According to Queensland police, Josephson was acquainted with his alleged assailant prior to the fatal altercation, which took place around 8:15 p.m. The authorities did not disclose the identities of the victim and the suspect. The teenager is alleged to have used a household object to stab Josephson.
Upon arriving at the scene, police found the 58-year-old executive critically injured. Despite efforts to save him, Josephson was pronounced dead at the scene. The teenage suspect was apprehended two blocks away from Josephson’s residence. After questioning, he was charged with murder and is being held without bail. He is due to appear in Brisbane Children’s Court on Friday morning.
Josephson’s residence, a three-story mansion with six bedrooms and six bathrooms, was purchased for $1.25 million in 2016. Following renovations in 2022, the property in the Clayfield enclave is now estimated to be worth $3.2 million. Josephson had recently listed the property for sale, intending to relocate his family to Noosa, two hours north of Brisbane.
Universal Store, the company co-founded by Josephson, caters to men and women aged 15 to 34 with trend-led clothing. After selling the company in 2018, Josephson served as the chief executive of Josephson Holdings Pty Ltd. He maintained a relatively low public profile. The company confirmed Josephson’s death in a statement.
The shocking incident left neighbors stunned, with many reporting that the party had been quiet prior to the stabbing. Queensland Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman described the incident as a tragic loss of life resulting from an altercation. He noted that the incident did not involve a case of carrying knives, but rather a household item. This comes after a law was enacted in September 2024 prohibiting minors from purchasing knives in Queensland.