Man, 22, in court over Lilia murder
A LITHUANIAN man will appear in court this morning charged with the murder of nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte.
The schoolgirl was stabbed to death as she played with her sister in a quiet alley in daylight.
Last night Deividas Skebas, 22, was charged over the girl’s killing outside her mother’s embroidery shop near the centre of Boston, Lincolnshire, at around 6.20pm last Thursday.
He was held on Saturday when armed officers surrounded a nearby house just four hours after Lincolnshire Police released CCTV footage of a man seen in the area shortly before the stabbing.
Earlier yesterday, a church service held in Lilia’s memory heard how the local community had been left ‘scarred’ by her death.
Around 150 people gathered for the poignant ‘service of prayers and reflection’ at St Botolph’s Church, the landmark known as Boston Stump 100 yards from the spot where little Lilia died.
Some worshippers wept openly while lighting candles to remember the Lithuanian schoolgirl. Associate rector Jane Robertson told how the
sound of children’s voices had echoed around the 14th century Gothic church during play activities earlier last week.
She said: ‘ Who would know that these scenes would be replaced with such sadness?’
The Victorian semi where Skebas was arrested is believed to be a house of multiple occupation with several Lithuanian residents.
Skebas is due to appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court today.
In a touching Facebook tribute, family friend Jurate Matulioniene said Lilia ‘ was a ray of the sunlight. The pain is unspeakable. Rest in peace, little angel’.