Man, 23, accused of stabbing girl, 9, to death in the street is declared unfit to stand trial
Lithuanian fruit picker, 23, accused of stabbing a nine-year-old girl to death in the street, has been declared unfit to stand trial
- Deividas Skebas will instead be tried in a trial of facts for the alleged murder
A man accused of stabbing a nine-year-old girl to death as she played with her little sister outside her home has been declared unfit to stand trial.
Deividas Skebas allegedly assaulted Lilia Valutyte in Fountain Lane, Boston, Lincolnshire on July 28 last year.
At a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court, Judge Simon Hirst said the 23-year-old is not fit to enter a plea or stand trial.
Instead, a trial of the facts is scheduled for July 10 in the same court.
Skebas was not present at today’s hearing, which arranged for the proceedings to be a trial of facts.
Deividas Skebas has been declared unfit to stand trial for the murder of Lilia Valutyte
Nine-year-old Lillia was stabbed in the street last year while playing with her sister
Lilia Valutyte’s casket is carried to St. Botolph’s Church in Boston for her funeral last year
In these cases, the prosecution presents the case to a jury, but the accused does not have to play a role in the proceedings or be present in court.
Lilia was playing with a hula hoop before she was found with a stab wound in Fountain Lane at 6:20 p.m. and couldn’t be rescued by medics.
Police launched a manhunt for her killer and armed officers arrested Skebas two days later before charging him with murder.
After her death, her devastated mother Lina Savicke, 35, and her stepfather, Aurelijus Savickas, 32, previously paid tribute to Lilia.
They also revealed that they plan to build a statue of her in downtown Boston as a lasting tribute to their daughter.
Lina said, ‘Lilia grew up on that street, she spent every week playing down there, and that happened next to the window.
“The memorial is a way for her to still be here, and we are now raising money to get it.
“It’s hard to know what to say. She was just a normal kid, one day she’s happy and the next she’s not, one day she wants to eat pancakes and the next she doesn’t – the usual stuff.
Lilia had been discovered with a stab wound and could not be saved despite the best efforts of paramedics
Skebas will not plead for the alleged crime and will not play a role in any proceedings
Lilia’s family has said they want to build a statue of her in downtown Boston
“She loved to dance, travel and try new things, and annoy her sister. She really wanted to go to Italy, so we’ll probably go next year anyway.
“There are so many things we could say, but we’re not going to talk much about who she was and share those stories from our house; they are ours and we want to keep them to ourselves.
“You find yourself looking for her everywhere. We had four corners and now one is gone.’
Aurelijus added: ‘She was brutal; in one way quiet and in other ways she was not. She always tried to make jokes.’
Chief Superintendent Martyn Parker previously said, “This is a heartbreaking case that has affected many people in Boston and beyond.
“Our thoughts remain with Lilia’s family at this exceptionally difficult time.”
Lilia’s death has sparked a wave of grief in a city known for its large Eastern European community.
A friend of the family described Lilia as “a nine-year-old angel” and “one of the most beautiful creatures,” adding, “No one will feel her mother’s pain. The girl was a ray of sunshine, just like her parents, who were the main helpers of our community and school events. The pain is unspeakable. We are very shocked by this shocking news! Rest in peace, little angel.’