• Life sentence with minimum 25 years for attacker
• Defense cited mental illness, prosecution stressed premeditation

A court in Boston sentenced 26-year-old Deividas Skebas to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years after he was found guilty of killing nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte while she played with a hula hoop outside her mother’s shop.

Skebas admitted to killing Lilia but denied murder, claiming his mental state reduced his responsibility; however, a Lincoln Crown Court jury convicted him after an eight-day trial.

During sentencing, Judge Akhlaq Choudhury described the act as “shocking and horrific,” adding: “You did the unthinkable… you approached her directly, drew the knife, and stabbed her in the heart as you neared innocent Lilia.”

The judge referred to CCTV showing Lilia as “happy and carefree,” asking, “Who could imagine she would be stabbed by a complete stranger and left to die in seconds?”

Skebas appeared via video link from Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire and was told he would remain in the psychiatric facility; if deemed fit for release, he would be transferred to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

The trial revealed Lilia was playing on Fountain Lane when Skebas ran toward her and stabbed her once in the chest. Despite efforts by an off-duty officer, doctors, and paramedics, Lilia died within an hour.

Skebas had a history of mental health issues and claimed he was controlled by a microchip; three psychiatrists confirmed he had schizophrenia and showed psychosis symptoms on the day of the attack.

The prosecution argued his illness did not stop him from planning the murder. Lilia’s family issued a statement saying the verdict “changes nothing… nothing will bring back our child, and the pain will not go away.”