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A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 25 years, after being convicted of the murder of nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte. The tragic incident occurred on 28 July 2022 in Boston, Lincolnshire, where Lilia was stabbed while playing with a hula hoop outside the shop where her mother worked. The attacker, Deividas Skebas, admitted to causing her death but denied murder, attributing his actions to his mental health condition. Nevertheless, after an eight-day trial at Lincoln Crown Court, the jury found him guilty.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Akhlaq Choudhury described the crime as a “shocking and horrific act of violence.” He recounted how Skebas approached Lilia deliberately, pulled out a knife, and inflicted a fatal stab wound to her heart. The judge highlighted CCTV footage showing the young girl as carefree and joyful moments before the attack, emphasizing the horror of the sudden violence by a stranger. Skebas, who showed little emotion throughout, appeared via videolink from Rampton Hospital, where he remains detained under psychiatric care. The judge warned that if he is ever discharged from the hospital, he will be transferred to prison to complete his sentence.
The court heard that Lilia was attacked in Fountain Lane, with Skebas running towards her and stabbing her once in the chest. Her mother, Lina Savicke, recounted how Lilia called out to her before collapsing into her arms. Despite the immediate medical efforts from an off-duty police officer, paramedics, and doctors, Lilia succumbed to her injury within an hour. Skebas, a Lithuanian national, had a documented history of mental health issues and told police following his arrest that he believed he was controlled by a microchip. Psychiatrists confirmed he was suffering from schizophrenia and psychosis at the time of the attack.
The defense argued that Skebas had been battling a serious and dangerous mental health condition for several years and would likely remain confined for the foreseeable future. They urged that his mental illness should not further stigmatize his appalling actions during a mental health crisis. However, the prosecution maintained that his illness did not prevent him from carrying out a calculated murder, labeling the act as “wicked.” After sentencing, Lilia’s family released a heartfelt statement expressing that the verdict would not heal their pain or bring their daughter back. They extended gratitude to those who supported them during their darkest times, acknowledging the importance of not feeling alone in their grief
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