Overview of the Incident
Deividas Skebas, a 26-year-old Lithuanian man, has been sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison for the murder of nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte. The tragic incident occurred on July 28, 2022, in Boston, Lincolnshire, where Lilia was playing with a hula hoop outside her mother’s embroidery shop when she was fatally stabbed in the heart.
Details of the Case
Skebas, who suffers from schizophrenia, claimed during police questioning that he was being controlled by a chip implanted in his brain by NASA. Although he denied the charge of murder, he admitted to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. On February 5, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court convicted him of murder.
Lilia’s mother, Lina Savickiene, described the horrifying moment she found her daughter covered in blood, with the hula hoop still around her. She initially thought an accident had occurred and desperately sought help while trying to cover her daughter’s wounds.
Legal Proceedings
An off-duty police officer attempted to assist Lilia, but unfortunately, their efforts were in vain. In 2023, Skebas was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial; however, this assessment was revised in spring 2025, leading to a criminal trial that commenced in January this year. The jury faced the challenge of determining Skebas’s mental state at the time of the attack.
Prosecutors argued that Skebas was aware of his actions when he stabbed Lilia and attempted to evade capture following the incident. He participated in the trial via video link from Rampton Hospital, a high-security facility.
Conclusion
The case has drawn significant media attention due to its tragic nature and the implications surrounding mental health in criminal justice. As the community mourns the loss of a young life, discussions about mental health awareness and public safety continue to be paramount.
You may also like
