A man has been jailed for at least 25 years after stabbing a nine-year-old girl in the heart while she played outside her mum’s shop.
Brutal Stabbing Horror in Boston
Deividas Skebas, 26, plunged a knife into little Lilia Valutyte on July 28, 2022. The attack happened as Lilia played with a hula hoop outside her mother’s embroidery shop in Boston, Lincolnshire.
Lilia’s mum, Lina Savickiene, made a chilling discovery. She found her daughter “covered in blood and with the hoop around her.” At first, Lina thought it was a simple accident with the toy. She screamed for help and tried desperately to stop the bleeding as Lilia faded fast.
Off-Duty Officer’s Brave Rescue Attempt
An off-duty police officer rushed to the scene, trying to save Lilia’s life. But tragically, the brave nine-year-old died from her horrific wounds.
Trial Reveals Killer’s State of Mind
Skebas was initially ruled mentally unfit for trial in 2023. But after a reassessment in spring 2025, he finally faced justice at Lincoln Crown Court earlier this year.
Jurors agreed Skebas killed Lilia but had to consider whether he was mentally sound during the attack. Prosecutors insisted he knew exactly what he was doing and tried to escape capture.
Lilia would have turned 13 this year, robbed of her life in a senseless act of violence.
