Police have described the case of a nine-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in Boston as 'heart-breaking'
The man responsible has been given an indefinite hospital order
Police say the case of a nine-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in a street in Boston has 'profoundly affected many people'.
It's as the man responsible was yesterday given an indefinite hospital order.
23-year-old Deividas Skebas of Thorold Street in Boston was charged with the murder of Lilia Valutyte after she died from a single stab wound last July - but he faced a trial of facts after it was deemed he was unfit to enter a plea or stand trial. It lasted for two days at Lincoln Crown Court.
Deividas Skebas was determined by a jury to have killed Lilia Valutyte by stabbing her in the chest in Fountain Lane, Boston, Lincolnshire last July.
Skebas has been detained in a secure hospital for an indefinite period - the only sentence the court could pass - hours after jurors returned their determination after about 15 minutes of deliberation.
Mrs Justice McGowan DBE said:
"Given the fact that he has been found to have killed a child, I am of the opinion that the only appropriate way to deal with the case is to make an order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
"Therefore I make an order that he be readmitted to and detained at Rampton Hospital.
"It is necessary to protect the public from serious harm and it is not possible to say how long that will be, so, accordingly I order that he be subject to special restrictions under Section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
"Accordingly, I make a hospital order without restriction of time."
Skebas was not present for his sentencing, did not attend the trial and did not play any part in proceedings.
Lead investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Lovatt from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), said:
“This has been a heart-breaking case that has profoundly affected many people, from the officers in force, to the wider community and further afield.
But mostly, the impact has been felt by Lilia’s family, who approach the one-year anniversary of her death.
"Our thoughts continue to be with Lilia’s family at this exceptionally difficult time and we ask that their privacy is respected.”