Lilia Valutyte’s mother fights back tears as hundreds line the streets for her daughter’s funeral
Hundreds of tearful mourners gathered on the streets of Boston in Lincolnshire this morning for the funeral of Lilia Valutyte, who was stabbed to death earlier this year.
Members of the community gathered for a procession through the town which followed a white and pink horse-drawn carriage carrying the nine-year-old’s coffin.
Heartbreaking pictures showed the colourful white coffin, covered in butterflies and pink flowers, being carried into St Botolph’s Church by pallbearers wearing bright pink ties.
Lilia’s mother, Lina Savike, 35, could be seen fighting back tears as she followed the cortege into the church ahead of the service.
The service, which included hymns Kumbaya, My Lord and I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, was followed by a private burial which was only attended by Lilia’s family.
Reverend Jane Robertson told the congregation that the feeling of anger was ‘real and valid’ adding that she could ‘see there is such sadness and grief’.
Reverend Robertson said: ‘We will be changed forever because of that child. Lilia, we are glad you were here. You have changed our lives – rest in peace, little one.’
Her mother Lina last month paid tribute to her daughter who, ‘loved to dance, travel and try new things, and annoy her sister.’
The coffin of nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte being carried into St Botolph’s Church in Boston, Lincolnshire. The young girl was stabbed to death on the streets outsider her mother’s embroidery shop while she was playing with her five year old sister
A horse drawn carriage carrying the coffin lead the procession through the town in Lincolnshire. Hundreds of mourners then followed the coffin into the church
The white horse-drawn carriage led Lilia’s coffin through Boston. Hundreds of mourners lined the streets of the town
Lilia was found with stab wounds outside her mothers embroidery shop on July 28, where she had been playing with her five-year-old sister. Lithuanian fruit picker, Deividas Skebas, 22, has been accused of stabbing the nine-year-old to death
Heartbreaking photos show Lilia’s grieving mother walk into the church for her daughter’s funeral service. Speaking after her death she said: ‘You find yourself looking for her everywhere. We had four corners and now one is gone’
Members of the community pay their respects to the nine-year-old who was killed playing on the street with her five-year-old sister. Hundreds lined the street as the coffin was carried through the town centre
The white coffin, covered in colourful butterflies and a pink and white wreath was carried into St Botolph’s church this morning. The service will be followed by a private burial where only family will attend
Hundreds lined the streets of Boston as the coffin was taken over Tower Bridge, through Market Place and along Church Street before arriving at the church, known to locals as Boston Stump.
Mourners carried bouquets of flowers into the church, while pallbearers wore bright pink ties – matching the pink feathers on the heads of the white horses.
One mourner, Magdalene Lowe, 78 said: ‘I’m very sad and I wish there was more I could do. Just come here helps.
‘We are all thinking about and her family. If you ever need help, we are there for you.’
Another mourner, Laura Dutkuti, 34, added: ‘I’m not feeling well because I have a son who is just 10-years-old.’
There were two displays outside the church. A floral tribute, in the shape of a butterfly lying next to a framed picture of Lilia and on the other said there was a table with drawings laid on it.
They had the words ‘we will miss you’ on them accompanied by the name Lilia in a heart.
Footage has shown the moment the youngster was playing with her five-year-old sibling on a street in broad daylight with a hula hoop – which the pair often did while their mother was at work – before Lilia was attacked just ten minutes later.
Police officers were seen running over to Lilia with first aid bags in a desperate bid to save her.
The former pupil at Boston Pioneers Academy and Carlton Road Academy was confirmed dead at the Boston Pilgrim Hospital after the incident.
Paying tribute to her daughter last month, her mother said: ‘Lilia was grown in that street, every week she spent down there playing, and it happened next to the window.
‘The memorial is a way for her to still be there, and we’re now fundraising to get it. It’s hard to know what to say.
‘She was just a normal child, one day she’s happy and another she isn’t, one day she wants to eat pancakes and another she doesn’t – the usual things.
‘She loved to dance, travel and try new things, and annoy her sister. She wanted to go to Italy, so we will probably go anyway next year.
‘There are so many things we could say, but we are not going to talk a lot about who she was and share those stories from our home; they are ours and we want to keep them for us.
‘You find yourself looking for her everywhere. We had four corners and now one is gone.’
Lilia’s stepdad Aurelijus Savickas, 32, added: ‘She was cheeky; quiet in one way and then other ways she wasn’t. She always tried to make fun.’
Lilia’s mother Lina Savike walks directly behind the white coffin, covered in 3D butterflies, clutching her families hands
Mourners arrive at the church with bouquets of flowers ahead of the service for Lilia more than a month after she was murdered while playing with her younger sister in the street
Nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte was found with stab wounds outside her mothers embroidery shop on July 28, where she had been playing with her five-year-old sister. Despite efforts to save her, she died later that day Boston Pilgrim Hospital
The horse-drawn carriage carrying Lilia’s coffin led the procession through Boston where is travelled over Tower Bridge through Market Place and along Church Street before arriving at the church, known to locals as Boston Stump
Members of the community gather in Boston to watch the coffin being carried into St Botolph’s Church in Boston, Lincolnshire
Hundreds of mourners gathered outside St Botolph’s Church in Boston, Lincolnshire. Lithuanian fruit picker, Deividas Skebas, 22, has been accused of stabbing the nine-year-old to death
A line of mourners, including Lilia’s mother and stepfather, follow her coffin into the church surrounded by friends and family
The pink and white horse-drawn carriage making its way to St Botolph’s Church this morning for the funeral of nine-year-old Lilia
The carriage waiting outside of the church. One mourner, Magdalene Lowe, 78 said: ‘I’m very sad and I wish there was more I could do. Just come here helps’
Four men carry Lilia’s coffin, covered in 3D butterflies, into the church. The men wore pink ties that matched the horse-drawn carriage
The service was held at St Botolph’s Church in Boston, known as the Boston Stump to locals. The service at 11.30am will be followed by a private, family-only burial
Lithuanian fruit picker, Deividas Skebas, 22, has been charged with the murder of Lilia. He has not yet entered a plea, and is due to appear again before Lincoln Crown Court next month.
He was reportedly recently ‘beaten to a pulp’ and stabbed with a makeshift ‘shank’ knife during a violent attack by another inmate while on remand at Category A prison HMP Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
Skebas is said to have been discharged from hospital, the day after the assault.
Deividas Skebas, 22, has been charged with the murder of Lilia. He has not yet entered a plea, and is due to appear again before Lincoln Crown Court next month
A Prison Service spokesperson said: ‘A prisoner at HMP Wakefield was treated in hospital for injuries following an assault by another prisoner.
‘We are unable to comment further while police investigate.’
Skebas is next due in court for a case for a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 19, when a provisional trial date will be fixed.
An inquest opening heard Lilia, who was born in Boston to a Lithuanian family, died from a single stab wound to the chest and was identified by her stepdad.
Lilia’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief in a town known for its large Eastern European community.
A family friend described Lilia as ‘a nine-year-old angel’ and ‘one of the most beautiful creatures’, adding: ‘None will feel her mother’s pain. The girl was a ray of the sunlight, just like her parents, who were the main helpers of our community and school events. The pain is unspeakable. We are devastated at this shocking news! Rest in peace, little angel.’
Skebas came from the industrial city of Utena in north-east Lithuania, where members of his family still live. A property overlooking Boston’s Central Park was searched by forensic officers over the weekend.
Chief Superintendent Martyn Parker described Lilia’s murder as ‘heartbreaking’, adding that the case ‘has affected many people in Boston, and further afield’.