A man has received his sentence after fatally stabbing a nine-year-old girl in the heart while she was playing outdoors. Deividas Skebas, aged 26, took the life of Lilia Valutyte in Boston town center in Lincolnshire on July 28, 2022, as she enjoyed playing with a hula hoop near her mother’s embroidery shop.
Skebas was found guilty of murder at Lincoln Crown Court, where he had admitted to killing Lilia but denied the charge of murder based on diminished responsibility due to his schizophrenia. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years.
During the incident, Skebas claimed he had consumed a piece of rice he believed to be a microchip, asserting that he had the ability to bring Lilia back to life if the police contacted his alleged controller at Nasa. CCTV footage presented in court showed Lilia playing with a hula hoop while Skebas, dressed in a grey T-shirt and jeans, observed her before carrying out the fatal attack.
Following the stabbing, an off-duty police officer, Detective Constable Andrew Pearson, initially pursued Skebas but later shifted his focus to providing life-saving aid to Lilia. The court heard that Lilia, while playing in Fountain Lane, was approached by Skebas, who swiftly stabbed her in the chest.
Despite efforts from medical personnel and paramedics, Lilia tragically passed away within an hour in the arms of her mother, Lina Savicke. Skebas, who appeared in court via video-link from Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire, where he was wearing a navy blue zip-up jumper, showed no reaction as the judge delivered his sentence.
The court highlighted Skebas’s drug use, including cannabis and amphetamines, which were noted to exacerbate his schizophrenia. The judge emphasized that Lilia, a vibrant and carefree young girl, should have been safe in the area where she was playing, just steps away from her mother.
Skebas has been sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of release after serving at least 21 years and 156 days, accounting for time already spent in custody. The decision on his potential release or continued confinement will be determined by the Parole Board.
Throughout the trial, family members and loved ones expressed profound grief over the loss of Lilia, who would have turned 13 on February 2. They remembered her as a creative and spirited individual who cherished painting and had a special place in her room where she could freely express her imagination.
