Man stabbed Lilia Valutyte, 9, through the heart while she played with hula hoop, court hears

A schizophrenic man stabbed a nine-year-old girl through the heart while she was playing in the street, a murder trial has heard.

A jury heard that Deividas Skebas killed Lilia Valutyte as she played close to where her mother was working in Boston, Lincolnshire, on 28 July, 2022.

Skebas, 26, denied murdering Lilia but admitted manslaughter through diminished responsibility, the court heard.

Jurors heard on the first day of the trial on Monday at Lincoln Crown Court that there was no dispute that Skebas stabbed Lilia, but they must decide what his state of mind was when he killed her.

The prosecutor said that Lilia was attacked outside a central Boston shop where her mother worked when she was killed.

Speaking to the jury of seven men and five women, prosecutor Christopher Donnellan KC said: "It's a tragic case, we accept. But, as has already been indicated by My Lord, one you have got to set aside your emotions.

"This deliberate murder was clearly a wicked act. He knew his conduct was wrong. He knew he was killing a child."

Mr Donnellan told the jury that Skebas waited in the quiet street until other pedestrians had moved out of the way.

He said Skebas's pace "quickened" before he took a knife out from his back pocket.

"He put the knife straight into the middle of Lilia and the force of it appears to have knocked her back towards some shutters on the adjoining shop," he said.

"That stab wound went straight through her heart and she fell there in the street. He ran off."

An off-duty police officer nearby initially chased Skebas, before attempting to save Lilia's life.

Lilia was pronounced dead within an hour of the attack, Mr Donnellan said.

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Skebas bought a Sabatier paring knife from a Wilko shop in the town two days before Lilia was killed, the jury heard.

He was arrested and then transferred to hospital as his mental state had declined.

The defendant said there was a "form of control over him and his actions", referring to Nasa and a microchip, following his arrest, the court heard.

Jurors were told it was determined that Skebas, formerly of Thorold Street in Boston, Lincolnshire, was not fit to be tried at the time.

Mr Donnellan told the jury: "He is saying he's not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Experts agree that Mr Skebas is diagnosed with schizophrenia."

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Skebas has received treatment for his mental health in Britain and Lithuania.

The prosecutor told the jury that medical experts have reviewed his mental health, and although he remains mentally unwell, he is able to participate in the trial.

The trial continues.