Man Found Guilty of Murdering Nine-Year-Old Girl in Boston Street Attack
A Lithuanian man has been convicted of murder after stabbing a nine-year-old girl in the heart as she played with a hula hoop in a Lincolnshire town centre.
Deividas Skebas, aged 26, attacked Lilia Valutyte on July 28, 2022, while she was playing outside her mother's embroidery shop in Boston. The horrific incident occurred in broad daylight, shocking the local community and leading to a complex legal case.
Jury Rejects Manslaughter Plea in Emotional Trial
Skebas had admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, citing a diagnosis of schizophrenia. However, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court unanimously found him guilty of murder following a trial that focused intensely on his state of mind at the time of the attack.
The jury deliberated for nearly seven and a half hours before reaching a majority verdict of 11 to one. Prosecutors argued that Skebas knew his actions were wrong, with Christopher Donnellan KC describing the stabbing as "a wicked act" and stating "He knew he was killing a child."
Family's Heartbreaking Statements Reveal Ongoing Trauma
In victim impact statements read to the court, Lilia's mother, Lina Savickiene, expressed unimaginable grief. "This is not something you recover from," she said through her husband, Aurelijus Savickas. "Sometimes terrifying thoughts overwhelm the mind and during this trial there have been many, many more."
Aurelijus Savickas, who became Lilia's stepfather when she was three, described her as a "beautiful soul" with a "strong character." He added: "Lilia, you will always live in our hearts, you are forever loved, forever missed."
Defence Arguments and Bizarre Claims in Court
During the trial, defence barrister Andrew Campbell-Tiech KC told jurors that Skebas was "quite obviously deluded" and that doctors treating him doubted he would ever be cured. The court heard that following the attack, Skebas claimed he had "the power to resurrect" Lilia if police contacted "his controller in Nasa."
Skebas, formerly of Thorold Street in Boston, has been held at Rampton high security hospital since December 2022. He watched the proceedings via video link as the case was adjourned following the murder verdict.
Sentencing Scheduled for End of February
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for February 25, where the court will determine the appropriate punishment for this tragic crime. The conviction brings some measure of legal closure to a case that has devastated a family and traumatised a community.
The attack has raised serious questions about public safety and mental health provision, with the details of Lilia's final moments playing happily with her hula hoop before being brutally attacked haunting all who followed the case.
