The millionaire co-founder of the Universal Store clothing chain has died after allegedly being stabbed by a teenage boy in Brisbane during a house party.
Greg Josephson, 58, who co-founded the business with his brother Michael in 1999, was found dead at his Clayfield mansion in the city’s inner-north, shortly after 8pm on Thursday night.
A 15-year-old boy, who was known to the retail entrepreneur, was arrested at the Oriel Road home and has been charged with one count of murder.
Police found the former Universal chief executive dead upstairs at the six bedroom, 1930s mansion with a tennis court, which is registered to his wife Tamra Josephson.
The boy was refused police bail and is due to appear in Brisbane Children’s Court on Friday morning.
Universal Store is one of Australia’s most popular fashion retailers, with over 80 physical stores nationwide, offering the latest trends in youth and streetwear fashion.
Mr Josephson founded the Brisbane-based company alongside his brother, which last year had sales of $244million. Greg Josephson is also the owner of the Noosa Reef Hotel, which he bought for $13.9million in 2021.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said an altercation took place between the 15-year-old boy and Mr Josephson.
It is alleged a household implement was used.
Greg Josephson, 58, who co-founded the business with his brother Michael in 1999, was found dead at his Clayfield house in Brisbane’s north shortly after 8pm on Thursday night
Mr Josephson’s body was found upstairs at the sprawling property, police alleged
Police were called to a three-storey home in northern Brisbane after reports a man in his 50s was critically injured
‘There was some sort of altercation that’s resulted in this 58-year-old male tragically, losing his life,’ the acting assistant commissioner said.
‘It’s not a case of carrying knives, it’s unfortunately allotted in a home.
‘Police are not looking for any other party, so it was an individual, the 15-year-old is the sole offender that we believe was involved in this incident.
‘The guests at the party were not involved in the incident as it unfolded.
‘There was an organised event arranged through social media at the address in Oriel Road, Clayfield,’ he said.
‘Last night, about 20 to 30 young people were in attendance at that address when this incident unfolded.
Officers found the 15-year-old boy near the property, on Barlow Street, and took him into custody.
He was refused police bail and has been scheduled to appear in Brisbane Childrens Court on Friday.
Inspector Jane Healy said that police attending the house came across a ‘confusing and confronting scene’.
Universal Store is one of Australia’s most popular fashion retailers, with over 109 physical stores nationwide, offering the latest trends in youth and streetwear fashion
The house was filled with about 30 teenagers who were attending an alleged house party
‘It’s still extremely early and the situation was quite chaotic, confusing and confronting scene when police arrived, so we are still establishing a timeline of what has happened.
The Child Protection Investigation Unit is investigating the incident.
Police have appealed to anyone who may have information that could assist, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage from the area, to come forward.
A neighbour has described the shock she felt when the incident occurred.
‘I did hear the police go down the street,’ she told the Courier Mail.
‘I didn’t think something like this was going to happen so close. [It’s a] bit of a shock.’
The six-bedroom property has been listed as for sale on Realestate.com.au for 43 days.
The upmarket home features a swimming pool, six bathrooms and two parking spaces.
It was sold in 2016 for $1,910,000 and the median property prices in Clayfield over the last year range from $1,880,000 for houses in this suburb north of the Brisbane River.
Greg Josephson did a Bachelor of Commerce at Griffith University, graduating in 1987.
He spent 12 years as a leasing executive with Jones Lang LaSalle, Lendlease and Westfield before co-founding the Universal Store in 1999.
