A man, identified as Deividas Skebas, age 26, has been found guilty of committing a murder by fatally stabbing a nine-year-old girl named Lilia Valutyte in the heart while she was playing with a hula hoop outside her mother’s embroidery shop in the town center of Boston, Lincolnshire, on July 28, 2022.
Skebas, originally from Lithuania, initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter based on diminished responsibility but was ultimately convicted of murder by a jury at Lincoln Crown Court. The trial focused on Skebas’ mental state at the time of the incident, with no dispute that he, diagnosed with schizophrenia, caused Lilia’s death.
During the proceedings, Christopher Donnellan KC, addressing the jurors, described the deliberate murder as a heinous act, stating that Skebas was aware that his actions were wrong and that he was taking the life of a child.
Skebas followed the trial remotely from Rampton high security hospital, and the court postponed the sentencing to February 25 after the jury’s murder verdict. Testimonies revealed how Lilia’s mother, Lina Savickiene, held her daughter in her arms after the tragic attack.
In a statement read by her husband, Aurelijus Savickas, Mrs. Savickiene expressed the profound impact of the loss, highlighting the ongoing struggle with overwhelming thoughts and unanswered questions about why this tragedy occurred.
Mr. Savickas, who became Lilia’s stepfather at the age of three, emphasized the bond they shared and described Lilia as a cherished and strong-willed individual, pledging eternal love and remembrance.
During the trial, defense barrister Andrew Campbell-Tiech KC portrayed Skebas as delusional, with doctors indicating skepticism about his potential for recovery. Reports emerged that Skebas believed he possessed the ability to bring Lilia back to life if certain conditions were met.
Following the attack, Skebas, previously residing on Thorold Street in Boston, was transferred from prison to Rampton Hospital, where he remains. The jury’s verdict of guilty for murder was reached by a majority decision after almost seven-and-a-half hours of deliberation.
