Girl of 9 is stabbed to death as she plays in quiet lane
THE fatal stabbing of a girl of nine in a quiet lane brought renewed despair yesterday over Britain’s knife crime epidemic.
Lilia Valutyte was killed just yards from a cafe where her mother Lina was a regular customer, working on her tablet while her daughter played on the cobbles outside with her younger sister.
Detectives were last night questioning two suspects as residents of Boston in Lincolnshire struggled to comprehend the horrific attack. It took place at around 6.30pm on Thursday – barely a week into the school holidays.
Residents described seeing a toy pram – thought to belong to Lilia’s sister – abandoned at the scene.
The killing comes less than two years after Roberts Buncis, 12, was stabbed
‘What is wrong with this world?’
more than 70 times by a teenager in a frenzied attack in the same market town. In 2016 Boston had the highest murder rate of any comparable town in England and Wales.
The latest killing follows a wave of stabbings in London that saw three people killed in less than 24 hours and another victim badly injured.
Last November Ava White, 12, was murdered by a teenager in Liverpool after going into the city to watch the Christmas lights being switched on.
Lilia was killed with a single stab wound outside an agricultural recruitment agency on a quiet lane next to quaint shops.
Her Lithuanian mother, Lina Savicke, used to work at the job agency, but police have declined to comment on whether they believe the attack was linked to her role there. They have not given ages or sexes for the arrested duo or confirmed what offence they are being held on suspicion of.
A tent was set up at the murder scene near the historic St Botolph’s Church – nicknamed the Boston Stump – as forensic officers bagged up evidence. Floral tributes were left by tearful families as residents spoke of their shock.
The father of murdered Roberts showed his support for Lilia’s family as he asked: ‘What is wrong with this world, what is wrong with Boston?’ Edgar Buncis added: ‘I would tell you thousands of words but don’t know what to say. Be strong, love those who you have.’
Among the residents paying their respects at the scene was Arthur Smith, 66, who said: ‘It is just so shocking. When I was growing up, you could never imagine something like this happening.’
Mother of four Fiona Raynor, 49, said: ‘It is just horrendous that a little girl can be stabbed to death in the street in broad daylight.
‘I feel awful for her family. This has broken my heart.’