Man who knifed woman to demise in road mentioned he might ‘resurrect her if cops referred to as NASA’
Deividas Skebas, 26, was found guilty of murdering Lilia Valutyte in Boston, Lincolnshire, on July 28 2022 as she played with a hula hoop outside her mother’s embroidery shop
Deividas Skebas pictured outside Lincoln Crown Court(Image: SWNS)
A man has been found guilty of murder after knifing a nine year old girl in the chest as she played with a hula hoop on the street.
Deividas Skebas, 26, launched his attack on Lilia Valutyte in Boston town centre, Lincolnshire, on July 28 2022, whilst she was playing outside her mother’s embroidery shop.
The Lithuanian defendant had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility but was found guilty of murder by jurors at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday.
The jury was tasked with determining Skebas’ mental state during the assault – there was no question that Skebas, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, killed Lilia.
Christopher Donnellan KC told the court at the opening of the trial last week: “This deliberate murder was clearly a wicked act.”
“He knew his conduct was wrong. He knew he was killing a child.”
Skebas observed proceedings via video link from Rampton high security hospital as the case was postponed following the jury’s murder verdict. Sentencing will take place on February 25.
The court had previously heard how Lilia’s mother, Lina Savickiene, held her daughter in her arms following the street attack.
In a victim impact statement delivered by her husband, Aurelijus Savickas, the bereaved mother said: “During these nine years we lived life fully, we visited many places, we didn’t stand still.”
Speaking of her anguish, Mrs Savickiene said: “This is not something you recover from.
“Sometimes terrifying thoughts overwhelm the mind and during this trial there have been many, many more.”
She continued: “Why her? Why us? The questions remain unanswered.”
Mr Savickas became Lilia’s stepfather when she was just three years old, he shared in his statement. “From that moment we walked our journey together,” he said.
“Becoming her stepfather was new for both of us, but I loved her as my own and always tried to be there for her.”
He described her as a “beautiful soul” with a “strong character”. He added: “Lilia, you will always live in our hearts, you are forever loved, forever missed.”
During the trial, defence barrister Andrew Campbell-Tiech KC told the jury Skebas was “quite obviously deluded”. Doctors treating Skebas doubt he will ever be cured, he informed the jury.
After the horrific attack, Skebas claimed he had “the power to resurrect” Lilia if the police contacted “his controller in Nasa,” the court heard.
The defendant, previously of Thorold Street in Boston, was moved from prison to Rampton Hospital in December 2022.
He was found guilty by a majority of 11 to one after the jury deliberated for nearly seven-and-a-half hours.
